Neurodisability and child development

About

We offer comprehensive multidisciplinary and multi-agency services for children with neurodisability, communication disorders, and behavioural problems.

We assess and treat children with developmental delay neurodisability services including:

• spasticity management and botulinum toxin injections to relieve muscle spasms
• social communication disorder (autistic spectrum disorder)
• behavioural disorders including ADHD
• looked after children/adoption
• complex feeding
• statutory medical examinations and reports
• support of local special needs schools immunisation advice

We work in partnership with community and acute service providers and the team includes:

• medical
• physiotherapy
• occupational therapy
• speech and language therapy
• clinical psychology
• clinical nurse specialists

The team is involved in the local implementation of immunisation policy and advice and provides a local service for pupils attending Westminster Special Schools.

The team work alongside other agencies on pathways for children and their families with disabilities, in keeping with current national guidance such as national service framework for children, Every Child Matters, and NICE guidelines.

Where relevant, our team provides health input for statutory areas of responsibility for education, looked after children, adoption and fostering. 

Clinics

Our neurodisability and child development service holds clinics at St Mary's Hospital and in the community.

St Mary’s Hospital appointments

Address

Children’s outpatient department
Sixth floor
Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (QEQM) building
St Mary’s Hospital
Praed Street
London W2 1NY

Contact information

Phone: 020 3312 1545

Community appointments

Address

Community child health
First floor
The medical centre
7E Woodfield Road
London W9 3XZ

Contact information

Phone: 020 7266 8771 

Meet the team

Our neurodisability and child development service is managed by a team of consultants.

Consultants

Dr Sunil Pullaperuma, consultant in paediatric neurodisability
Dr Stefan Studnik, consultant paediatrician with an interest in communication disorders
Dr Chandrayee Sengupta, consultant paediatrician with an interest in behaviour paediatrics

Administration manager 

Ms Dominina Prospere

Health development worker

Ms Jackie Campbell

Patient information

Find out what to expect when you come to hospital for your child's appointment.

Before your appointment

Each referral is reviewed by our team. Your child will be allocated to the appropriate health professionals within the team and an appointment will be made.

Parents/caregivers should attend all appointments with their child if they are under the age of 16.

Please bring your child’s ‘red book’, and any relevant reports. It would also be helpful if you can bring one of your child’s favourite toys to help them join in with their assessment. In addition, it would be helpful if you could bring the following:

• your full address and telephone number(s)
• your appointment card and appointment letter
• your GP’s name and address
• a list of questions you may want to ask your consultant

During your appointment

Your appointment may be with one or more clinicians, depending on your child’s needs and it could be possible that a number of different appointments may be needed. Initial appointments are held either at St Mary’s Hospital, the medical centre on Woodfield Road in Westbourne Park, or at your child’s school.

During this appointment the clinician will take a detailed history, provide a clinical examination and may organise further tests, assessments or therapy treatment. A treatment plan will be discussed with you and a written report will be provided for you and relevant professionals.

Please note that we are a teaching hospital, so medical students may be present for some appointments. If you do not wish to have them in the room please let the nurse or doctor know and the students will be asked to step outside.

After your appointment

We write to all patients within a few days of the appointment with details of the consultation.

Referrals

Find out how to refer patients to our neurodisability and child development service.

GP and secondary care referrals and advice

We accept referrals where there are developmental concerns and the child has a GP from central and north Westminster and north Kensington and Chelsea.

To refer to the child development service, please send your referral to:
The medical centre
Community child health
First floor
7E Woodfield Road
London W9 3XZ 

Phone: 020 7266 8777 (PA)