Health

The way that different providers work together to offer services in Devon can seem complex, but it shouldn’t be complicated for families. Health professionals who work with you can advise you where to get the help you need, when you need it. Click on the titles for more information about what services are available and how to access them.

• Support for Children with Medical Conditions in School

  My child has medical needs – what does this mean for their education?

  Devon County Council has an Education for Children with Medical Needs policy. It describes statutory responsibilities in assessing the needs of children who are unable to attend school. It also describes how we make suitable provision to address those needs. We work closely with medical professionals and the child’s family. We will consider the medical evidence from both  Clinical Consultants and General Practitioners (GPs).

  “LAs are responsible for arranging suitable full-time education for children of compulsory school age who, because of illness, would not receive suitable education without such provision. This applies whether or not the child is on the roll of a school and whatever the type of school they attend. It applies to children who are pupils in Academies, Free Schools, special schools and independent schools as well as those in maintained schools.”

  “suitable” = suitable to the child’s age, aptitude, ability and any special educational needs that he or she may have.
  “full time” = unless the local authority considers that a pupil’s condition means that full-time provision would not be in his or her best interests.
  The use of electronic media – such as ‘virtual classrooms’, learning platforms and so on – can provide access to a broader curriculum.

  Source: Ensuring a Good Education for Pupils who Cannot Attend school due to medical conditions 

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  My child is in hospital

  The Devon Hospitals Short Stay School provides education for children whose medical needs mean they have a long stay in hospital in Devon. The school teaches on two sites:

  • Bramble Unit at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Exeter
  • Caroline Thorpe Ward at the North Devon District Hospital, Barnstaple.

  This school aims to provide continuity of education and works with children, families, medical professionals and schools to do this. Specialist teachers will work with children and young people to create an individual learning plan.

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  My child is over 16 and has a medical condition

  Devon has a Post-16 Distance Learning Offer for Young People with Medical Conditions.

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  Who is responsible for the education of children with medical needs?

  Marc Kastner is Devon’s officer responsible for the education of children with additional health needs.

  Dr Laraine Dibble and Dr Jane Dunlop are the Designated Medical Officers for NHS Devon Clinical Commissioning Group.

• Specialist Assessment Services for Early Years

  Early years providers must carry out a progress check at age 2 to assess your child’s progress, to identify strengths and any areas of concern. They will discuss your child’s progress with you and you will get a written report. If the setting is concerned about your child’s progress, they will request permission from you to discuss this with the health visiting team and possibly consider an integrated review.

  What services are there?

  Children and Family Health Devon provides Specialist Children’s Assessment Centres for children aged 0 – 5 years with significant developmental difficulties. The centres offer assessments in the most appropriate venue for the child and family.

  After an assessment, you may get help at home from the Portage service if your 0-5-year-old has significant or profound delays or another condition that impacts on their development.

  Hospitals provide community paediatric services. Paediatrics is the branch of medicine which focuses on the development of children and the diagnosis and treatment of childhood illness. You can use NHS Choices to find a service near you.

  • Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust (RD&E)
  • Northern Devon Healthcare Trust (NDHT)
  • Torbay and South Devon Healthcare NHS Trust (TSDHT)
  • Plymouth Hospitals Trust (PHNT)

  South Devon children will be assessed at Torbay and South Devon Foundation Trust’s John Parkes Unit Child Development Centre.

  Vranch House provides the following clinical services for children and young people aged 0 – 5:

  • Physiotherapy
  • Augemented and Alternative Communication Aids (AAC)
  • Specialist Wheelchair Service

  How do I access these services?

  If a child needs a service from Vranch House, anyone working with the child can make a referral. If the child is in East or West Devon, this will be sent straight to Vranch House; in north Devon the referral goes to the Physiotherapy team in Barnstaple Health Centre.

  Children and Family Health Devon is responsible for provision across the county of Devon. If a child has a significant delay in two or more areas of development, they may be eligible for service from a specialist child assessment centre.

  You will need to make a referral to access support.

  You can request services via the Single Point of Access:
  Children and Family Health Devon
  Single Point of Access Team
  1a Capital Court
  Bittern Road
  Sowton Industrial Estate
  Exeter EX2 7FW

  email:TSDFT.DevonSPA@nhs.net
  tel: 0330 0245 321

   

  • Request for Services form
  • Good Referral Guide

  To access services based in Torbay Hospital John Parkes Unit (except for emergency and inpatient care), you can contact the hospital to make an appointment.

• Speech and Language Therapy

  A speech and language therapist can support your child if they have difficulty with speech, language or communication, or with feeding and swallowing.

  What services are there?

  Speech and Language Therapy supports children and young people who live in Devon.

  Vranch house provides an Alternative and Augmented Communication (AAC) intervention service. This service provides specialist Speech and Language Therapist input to help people use high-tech AAC systems.

  Dame Hannah Rodgers provides AAC systems and aids for people with highly complex needs who may fit the ‘Criteria for NHS England Specialist Services’.

  How do I access the services?

  Children and Family Health Devon is responsible for provision across the county of Devon. You will need to make a referral to access support.

  You can request services via the Single Point of Access:
  Children and Family Health Devon
  Single Point of Access Team
  1a Capital Court
  Bittern Road
  Sowton Industrial Estate
  Exeter EX2 7FW

  email:TSDFT.DevonSPA@nhs.net
  tel: 0330 0245 321

   

  •  Request for Services form
  • Evidence that strategies from website (such as toolkits) have been tried, with evaluation and outcomes
  • ENT (consultant) report – requests for voice difficulties only
  • Hearing test – most recent report – requests for speech difficulties only
  • Let’s Talk More screening tool for children aged between 2 years and 2 years 11 months – results of screening and re-screen if appropriate
  • Speech Link/Language Link assessments – results and evidence of outcomes

  You can access the AAC Service at Vranch House by following their referral procedure and completing a referral form.

  You can access the AAC service at Dame Hannah Roger’s by following their referral procedure and completing a referral form.

  • Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) Pathway – December 2018

• Occupational Therapy

  An Occupational Therapist will help your child learn the best way to carry out daily tasks whether it’s personal care, play activities or school work that he/she is unable to do due to physical, developmental or learning difficulties.

  What services are there?

  Children and Family Health Devon’s Occupational Therapy service supports children and young people with physical, sensory, developmental, cognitive and social needs that affect their functional abilities and impact on their daily life.

  Vranch House provides an Occupational Therapy service for children or young people with specific functional needs which relate to motor skill difficulties, e.g. use of cutlery, scissors, handwriting, or specific difficulties accessing the curriculum in a mainstream school.

  How do I access these services?

  You can request services via the Single Point of Access:
  Children and Family Health Devon
  Single Point of Access Team
  1a Capital Court
  Bittern Road
  Sowton Industrial Estate
  Exeter EX2 7FW

  email:TSDFT.DevonSPA@nhs.net
  tel: 0330 0245 321

   

  You can contract Vranch House directly for information about how to access its Occupational Therapy service.

• Physiotherapy

  What services are there?

  Vranch House provides Physiotherapy for children and young people aged 5 – 19 years with a wide range of physical difficulties from mild to very complex.

  Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust provides Physiotherapy for the Torbay and South Devon area.

  If your GP is in West Devon, your Physiotherapy Service is provided by Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, based in the Child Development Centre in Plymouth.

  How do I access these services?

  You can contract Vranch House for information about how to access the Physiotherapy service.

  Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust only accepts referrals from GPs, Paediatricians and other therapists.

• Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health

  What services are there?

  Children and Family Health Devon’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) provides services for children and young people experiencing mental health problems.

  The Early Help for Mental Health (EH4MH) programme aims to build resilience in children and young people by tackling mental health issues before they become more serious. It uses a range of approaches, including face-to-face counselling, online support and self-help advice and guidance.

  There are two main NHS providers of mental health services for over-18s in Devon – Livewell South West in Plymouth and Devon Partnership Trust (DPT). There are also a large number of smaller, or ‘third sector’, providers who offer a wide range of supplementary services.

  Devon Partnership NHS Trust’s Specialist Teams for Early Psychosis (STEP)  provides specialist care for people aged 14 upwards who are experiencing possible signs of psychosis.  Getting help early is important. There are treatments and support that can be offered to assist recovery.

  How do I access services for over 18s?

  To access Devon Partnership NHS Trust services, please visit your GP or for more information visit our website at www.dpt.nhs.uk

  If you are concerned that you or someone you know may be experiencing possible signs of psychosis, it is important to talk to your doctor or someone that you trust. You can also contact your local STEP Team.

  How do I access services for under-18s?

  You can request services via the Single Point of Access:
  Children and Family Health Devon
  Single Point of Access Team
  1a Capital Court
  Bittern Road
  Sowton Industrial Estate
  Exeter EX2 7FW

  email:TSDFT.DevonSPA@nhs.net
  tel: 0330 0245 321

   

  Any child or young person can access free online counselling via www.kooth.com or face to face counselling via Young Devon.

  You can find information about how to access services for over-18s via Devon Referral Support Services.

  Additional information

  • Babcock LDP has produced this guide to Anxiety-Based School Avoidance (ABSA) for parents, professionals and young people.
  • Devon Partnership NHS Trust: All services
  • Devon Partnership NHS Trust: Adult mental health
  • Devon Partnership NHS Trust: Locations directory
  • Livewell : Community Mental Health Teams
  • Livewell : Plymouth Options (IAPT) Anxiety & Depression Service
  • Livewell : Directory of Services

• Autistic Spectrum Condition Diagnosis

  How do I access the service?

  Children and Family Health Devon provides Autistic Spectrum Condition diagnosis across the county of Devon.

  You can request services via the Single Point of Access:
  Children and Family Health Devon
  Single Point of Access Team
  1a Capital Court
  Bittern Road
  Sowton Industrial Estate
  Exeter EX2 7FW

  email:TSDFT.DevonSPA@nhs.net
  tel: 0330 0245 321

   

  If you are over 18, Devon Partnership Trust provides a diagnostic and advisory role for the assessment of high functioning autism/Asperger’s disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) for adults only.

  • Support pre or post diagnosis
  • Helpful groups and support

• Hospice Services

  What services are there?

  Children and young people who live in South Devon with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions will get support from Torbay and South Devon Foundation Trust’s Children’s Community Nursing Team, based at Torbay Hospital.

  Children and Family Health Devon Palliative Care service provides care and support for children and young people with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions.

  NHS Continuing Healthcare is NHS funded care for adults age 18 and over with complex care needs who are either receiving long-term care or who may be at the end of their life and need care and support to meet their palliative care needs.

  Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) provides hospice care for children with life-limiting conditions and their whole family across the South West. The care they offer is wide-ranging; respite and short breaks, emergency care, palliative care and end of life care. CHSW operate three hospices; Little Bridge House in North Devon, Charlton Farm in North Somerset and Little Harbour in mid Cornwall.

  How do I access these services?

  You can request services via the Single Point of Access:
  Children and Family Health Devon
  Single Point of Access Team
  1a Capital Court
  Bittern Road
  Sowton Industrial Estate
  Exeter EX2 7FW

  email:TSDFT.DevonSPA@nhs.net
  tel: 0330 0245 321

  To access children’s services, based in Torbay Hospital (except for emergency and inpatient care), you can contact the hospital to ask for an appointment. In Torbay and South Devon, you can get services for over-18s through the Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust.

• Bladder and Bowel Services

  What services are there?

  North Devon Hospital’s bladder and bowel clinics cover the whole of Devon and Torbay. We are a multi-disciplinary team of Nurses and Physiotherapists who assess and treat a variety of complex bladder, bowel and pelvic floor problems. The service is also responsible for the pad service for Devon.

  If your GP is in West Devon, your continence nursing service is provided by Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, based in the Child Development Centre in Plymouth.

  How do I access the service?

  Referrals to the bladder and bowel team can be posted to the appropriate address, or emailed to ndht.bladderandbowel@nhs.net

  You can contact the Plymouth Child Development Centre for details about their referral routes.

• Children's Community, Health Visitors and School Nursing Services

  Health Visitors and School Nurses work with GPs, acute hospital services, Children’s Centres, education and local authorities to provide universal health care services to children, young people and their families, from pregnancy until 19 years of age.

  What services are there?

  Devon’s Public Health Nursing Service provides Health Visiting and School Nursing services across Devon.

  Health Visitors and School Nurses work with GPs, acute hospital services, Children’s Centres, education and local authorities to provide universal health care services to children, young people and their families, from pregnancy until 19 years of age.

  • Health Visitors
  • School Nurses

  Hospitals provide community paediatric services. Paediatrics is the branch of medicine which focuses on the development of children and the diagnosis and treatment of childhood illness. You can use NHS Choices to find a service near you.

  • Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust (RD&E)
  • Northern Devon Healthcare Trust (NDHT)
  • Torbay and South Devon Healthcare NHS Trust (TSDHT)
  • Plymouth Hospitals Trust (PHNT)

  How do I access these services?

  You can access health visitors through you GP and school nurses through your school or college.

  You can use the Preparing for Adulthood pages to find more information and support about services for young people moving into adult services.

• Specialist Equipment Services

  What services are there?

  Devon Independent Living Integrated Service (DILIS) includes delivery and installation, servicing and maintenance, and collection of equipment that has been ordered by a prescriber, GP, nurse, therapist or a social services provider. DILIS also make adaptations to people’s homes.

  Orthotics, Prosthetics, Wheelchairs and Special Seating

  Exeter mobility centre has the contract for Orthotics, Prosthetics, and Wheelchair services in Torbay and Devon.

  The Wheelchair Service assesses you for provision of:

  • Wheelchairs and children’s buggies if you have long-term mobility problems
  • Pressure care cushions for wheelchairs
  • Equipment to provide postural support in wheelchairs or buggies

  The Plymouth, South Hams and West Devon wheelchair service provides assessments for people with mobility and other postural problems, supplying wheelchairs, pressure care cushions and accessories for wheelchairs in Plymouth, the South Hams and West Devon.

  Vranch House provides the specialist wheelchair service for children who have been assessed by a community therapist as requiring specialist provision that cannot be provided by mainstream service.

  Alternative and Augmented Communication

  Vranch house provides an AAC intervention service. This service provides specialist Speech and Language Therapist input to help people use high-tech AAC systems.

  Dame Hannah Rogers provides AAC systems and aids for people with highly complex needs who may fit the ‘Criteria for NHS England Specialist Services’.

  • Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) Pathway – December 2018

  How do I access these services?

  Providing equipment is subject to the eligibility criteria agreed with the Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs). To access these services, your child will need to be assessed and referred by a therapist.

• Learning Disability Services

  What services are there?

  Virgin Care’s Learning Disability Nursing team gives advice and support to professionals and families of children and young people with significant or profound Learning Disabilities.

  Devon Partnership NHS Trust has Learning Disability nurses for young people aged 18+.

  Young people between the ages of 14 and 17 who have a learning disability are eligible for an annual health check. This is an important opportunity to discuss both their physical and mental health with their GP and build relationships to help ensure their future good health. Please read this letter for more information about annual health checks for young people with a learning disability. This toolkit from the Royal College of General Practitioners collects guidance and resources to help GPs, practice nurses and the primary administration team organise and perform quality Annual Health Checks on people with a learning disability.

  How do I access these services?

  You can request services via the Single Point of Access:
  Children and Family Health Devon
  Single Point of Access Team
  1a Capital Court
  Bittern Road
  Sowton Industrial Estate
  Exeter EX2 7FW

  email:TSDFT.DevonSPA@nhs.net
  tel: 0330 0245 321

• Services for Sensory Impairments (Hearing and Visual)

  What services are there?

   Rehabilitation Officers for Visually Impaired Children (ROVIC) provides habilitation (initial acquisition of skills) and rehabilitation (re-establishing skills) for children with visual impairment/deafblindness/multi-sensory impairment (MSI) and/or coexisting needs.

  Children and young people with sensory impairments may need specialist equipment and services known as ‘Alternative and Augmentative communication’ or AAC. There is an Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) Pathway showing how organisations work together to assess and meet children and young people’s needs.

  How do I access these services?

  A therapist can refer you to a specialist for assessment.

• Personal Health Budgets

  Who can have one?

  If you are under 18 and meet children’s continuing healthcare criteria, you can request a personal health budget for appropriate elements of your healthcare. Instead of the CCG purchasing a service, funding will be made directly available through your parents.

  If you are over 18 and you have a disability or complex medical problem, you might qualify for free NHS continuing healthcare (CHC); the eligibility criteria are different so you will need a different assessment.

  What’s it for?

  The aim of a personal health budget is that children, young people and their parents or carers will have greater choice, flexibility and control over the healthcare they receive. The purpose of the personal health budget is to build upon all the other support available through services already bought by our CCG, to achieve a set of outcomes agreed within the child or young person’s education health and care plan.

  How do I get one?

  If you think you may be eligible for a personal health budget, you can discuss this with someone who already provides your healthcare, such as a nurse or physiotherapist.

  More information:

  • NHS website information on personal health budgets
  • Personal Health Budgets 

• Comments and Complaints

  If you would like help and advice on how to access any of these services, or to make a complaint, you can access support from the provider Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS):

  • Northern Devon Healthcare Trust PALS
  • Royal Devon and Exeter PALS
  • Plymouth Hospitals Trust PALS
  • Devon Partnership Trust PALS
  • Torbay and South Devon Foundation Trust PALS

  If you would like to make a complaint about a commissioned provider, please follow the links below:

  • Livewell South West
  • Vranch House

  If your query or concern is about the commissioning of services then contact:

  • NEW Devon CCG PALS
  • South Devon and Torbay CCG PALS

  Local Strategies and Policies

  • Joint Strategic Needs Assessment
  • NEW Devon CCG Equality and Diversity Strategy
  • ‘Make a Complaint’ Procedure – NEW Devon CCG
  • Make a Complaint – Easy Read, NEW Devon CCG
  • Information Governance – NEW Devon CCG
  • South Devon and Torbay CCG Equality and Diversity Strategy

NHS Devon Clinical Commissioning Group commissions (designs, buys and monitors) the services described on these pages.

There are many other organisations and groups that can provide other or extra support. For more information about these please use Pinpoint.

We make every effort to keep the information on this website accurate and up to date. Please send feedback if you have any comments or queries about the information on this page.

Last updated – 11/04/19

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