Our team consists of a specialist consultants, an associate specialist and specialist nurses. We are also supported by specialist health visitors and children’s psychologists. We work closely with our colleagues in acute paediatrics, speech and language, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy.
We are based in two child development centres, one based at Danestrete Health Centre and one based at the New QEII Hospital, and we also cover a large geographical area and have outpatient clinics at Lister Hospital, New QEII Hospital and Hertford County Hospital.
Criteria for referral
We see children and young people (CYP) in a clinic setting who meet the following referral criteria:
- Registered with East and North Herts GP
- Age range from 0-16 years
We see children and young people (CYP) in a clinic setting who meet the following referral criteria:
Medical assessment and monitoring for:
• CYP with physical disabilities
• CYP with medical conditions affecting development and genetic diagnoses
• Children aged under 5 with significant developmental delay
• CYP attending severe learning disability schools
• Children in care
Additionally we undertake:
• Diagnostic assessments for Autistic spectrum disorder (in absence of complex mental health difficulties).
• Diagnostic assessments for ADHD (in absence of complex mental health difficulties)
• Initiation and management of ADHD medication
• Neurological assessment for Developmental Coordination Disorder
• Medical assessment of child with significant learning disability
We do not assess for the following:
• Learning disability in school age children – we do not undertake cognitive assessments.
• Tics/Tourettes Syndrome
• Mental health or emotional/behavioural dysregulation/dysfunction
• Restrictive Eating Behaviours
• Sleep Difficulties
• Sensory/Auditory Processing Disorder
Please be aware that all CYP have an initial assessment with a community paediatrician. This is an holistic and comprehensive assessment, and all neurodiverse conditions are considered in that initial appointment.
Separate referrals for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are not required at the point of referral. However, we do require that any referral contains completed paperwork from parents/guardians and nursery/school. The referral will not be accepted otherwise.
Referrals for Autism (ASD) and ADHD (Neurodiversity Pathway) – For CYP 5 years and over:
Please follow the link to download the referral form.
Seperate referrals for ASD and ADHD are not required if both conditions are being considered. Please specify on the paperwork the conditions being referred for.
All parts of the form must be included, including school information. If the form is not fully completed, it will be returned to the referrer.
Referrals must be made by a health professional.
When making a referral for an ASD and/or ADHD assessment – referrers should signpost families and carers to the resources that are available in Hertfordshire. Families do not require a diagnosis to access these resources and it will not impact on the diagnostic process. We strongly recommend that all families and carers access these resources.
The link to our resources page is here.
Referrals for Under 5’s and CYP with medical/genetic diagnoses impacting on development and developmental coordination disorder:
Please follow the link to download the referral form.
The referral form must be accompanied by an observational report from Health Visitor/Nursery or school report, otherwise it will be returned to the referrer.
Our team consists of Paediatricians and Special Needs Health Visitors and the referral form will be shared with both teams – please ensure families are aware of this.
Waiting times for assesments across the NHS are long, so we ask referrers to make the following referrals as well:
