Community Paediatrics Service
Medway Maritime Hospital
Magpies Centre
Green Zone
Level 2
Call: 01634 825172
Enquiries: medwayft.swalecchadmin@nhs.net
Referrals: medwayft.swalecchreferrals@nhs.net
Our community paediatricians provide a service for neurodevelopmental assessment and support for children registered with GPs in the Swale area only.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Referrals for suspected ASD can be considered for children aged two to 11. Referrals can be made by health visitors, speech and language therapists, nurseries and pre-schools, schools or GPs and must include pervasive evidence of impairment. A copy of our referral criteria is available to all referrers on request.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Referrals for suspected ADHD can be considered for children aged six to 11. Referrals can be made by GPs or schools, although GP referrals will need to include a school information form, which is available on request to all referrers. We are unable to accept any referrals for ADHD behaviour in children under the age of six.
Developmental concerns
Health Visitors may refer pre-school children with a full report on any developmental concerns.
Tics and neurodisability
GPs or paediatricians may refer children for tics or neurodisability concerns with a report detailing the medical presentation.
When your child’s referral has been received it will be triaged by the Community Paediatricians. If the referral meets our criteria it will be accepted and we will write to you explaining the process and the current waiting list (please note, the current waiting list is approximately 18 months but this is subject to change).
If the referral has not met our criteria, or if we need to gather further information, then we will write back to the referrer with an explanation.
Depending on the referral, your child may be invited for various investigations before you are seen by a community paediatrician, such as a Qb test (a computer-based test for ADHD), an Autism Diagnostic Interview (ADI) interview with parents only, or an Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) child assessment. The results of these investigations will be placed on your child’s file to be discussed with you at your first paediatrician appointment.
Children over the age of 11
We are not commissioned to carry out initial assessments on any children over the age of 11. These referrals should be sent to North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT) using their online form or call 0800 011 3474.
Mental health concerns / anxiety
These referrals should be sent to NELFT using their online form or call 0800 011 3474
Children registered with GPs in the Medway area
These referrals should be sent to Medway Community Healthcare (MCH) using their online form.
ASD
Local
Success on the Spectrum Course by MIDAS Centre, Meadowfield School. They also run courses relevant to managing behaviour and improving sleep in children. Contact them on 01795 477 778 and select option 6.
The Autism Apprentice – call 0300 011 0300
A handbook has been created by Kent County Council in partnership with the NHS, for Kent families who would like to know more about autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children. It was developed with help from parents and carers of children waiting for an assessment for autism and/or ADHD.
National
Book – Parenting Rewired: How to raise a happy Autistic Child in a Very Neurotypical World by Danielle Punter
ADHD
Local
ADHD Sheppey Facebook Group or email adhdsheppey@gmail.com
National
