Specialist health services

Provide NHS provision to support children and young people with additional needs, including developmental concerns, medical and long-term health conditions, learning and physical disabilities.

Based in Ipswich & Bury St Edmunds, the teams work across the County.

The services provided include:

• Audiology
• Community children's nursing team
• Child and family psychology
• Medical services
• Occupational therapy
• Physiotherapy
• Speech and language therapy
• Suffolk communication aids resource centre (SCARC)

Children and young people with speech, language, and communication needs may have difficulties with speech sounds, understanding speech, producing language, or using language appropriately.

Speech and language therapy provides treatment, support, and care for children and adults who have difficulties with communication, or with eating, drinking, and swallowing.

Occupational therapy aims to improve a person’s ability to do everyday tasks. Occupational therapists work with people of all ages and can look at all aspects of daily life in the home, school, or workplace.

Physiotherapy helps to improve general movement, function, and physical activity. It is provided by specially trained and regulated practitioners called physiotherapists.

In Suffolk, hearing and vision screening tests are carried out on children in reception class (aged 4 to 5) by the school nursing team.

If you are concerned about your child's hearing or vision, you can talk to your GP, Health Visitor or School Nurse who can offer advice and support.

Continence services help children, young people and adults who have bladder and/or bowel issues.

Your GP can advise you on NHS services that can help. They can provide support, advice and information, and may refer you to continence advisers or specialists.

ERIC, The Children’s Bowel & Bladder Charity, has advice and resources available to young people with bowel or bladder issues and their parents.