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Disabled Children

Volume 711: debated on Monday 1 June 2009

Question

Asked by

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 30 April (WA 57), how disabled children receive services based on their needs as assessed by a multi-disciplinary team; and what bodies constitute that multi-disciplinary team. [HL3818]

The National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services chapter on disabled children and young people and those with complex health needs sets out guidance on integrated diagnosis and assessment for disabled children. A copy has already been placed in the Library.

Healthy Lives, Brighter Futures, the strategy for children and young people's health, reiterates the importance of multi-disciplinary teams. A copy has already been placed in the Library. These teams may include a range of health and children's services professionals, depending on the needs of the individual child, such as:

doctors, including community paediatricians;

community children's nurses;

health visitors;

allied health professionals including: physiotherapists; speech therapists and occupational therapists;

staff from child and adolescent mental health services; specialist health professionals for rare conditions; social workers;

school health services;

midwives; and

neonatal nurses.