Community Paediatrics

Who can refer:

Referrals are considered from General Practitioners, Health Visitors and other professionals working with a child or young person. We consider referrals directly from schools and other education staff.

Who to refer:

For children and young people with social communication difficulties and possible autism spectrum disorder, new referrals will be considered for children under the age of 7 years. Referrals are accepted up to end of primary school in West Lothian.

Referrals will be considered for any child or young person who has:

• Red flags suggestive of an autism spectrum disorder. See Information Leaflet “Paeds ASD assessment diagnosis”  in Resources and Links tab
• Suspected neurodevelopmental disorder or disability. Children (under age 7 years, may be seen in Community Paediatrics where wider neurodevelopmental assessment is appropriate before referral to CAMHS for ADHD assessment
• A suspected or known genetic condition which affects developmental progress
• New neurodevelopmental concerns in a child or young person with a developmental disorder or disability.

East Lothian Neurodevelopmental (ND) Pathway

In East Lothian we are currently operating a pilot multi-agency ND pathway for all ND assessments including developmental delay, autism, ADHD and foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).

For preschool children – Health Visitors should be the first point of contact to make the referral so families should be encouraged to seek a referral though them.

For school age children – Schools/nurseries should be the first point of contact to make the referral so families should be encouraged to seek a referral through them.

GPs and other healthcare professionals can also refer using this pathway. For information on how to refer please follow this link to the East Lothian Mental Health and Wellbeing Service – Single Point of Access East Lothian – Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (nhslothian.scot)

Who not to refer:

• Concerns about possible autism spectrum disorder in a child or young person 7 years or older in –  please refer to CAMHS ASD
• ADHD assessment. Once completed their first term of Primary School please refer to CAMHS – See ADHD Paeds 
• Concerns about academic progress and learning in school-age children. Families should be signposted to discuss with education staff
• Behavioural problems not associated with developmental problems or disability
  • For pre-school children contact their health visitor
  • For school age children with suspected mental health disorder See CAMHS RefHelp pages
• Signpost to local parenting supports. See Resources and Links tab
• Isolated language difficulties
  • consider referral to paediatric speech and language therapy service (see Resources and Links tab) and audiology
• Medical problems not associated with developmental problems or disability. These children should be referred to the relevant medical specialty
• Sleep problems not associated with developmental problems or disability. See Resources and Links tab
• Isolated feeding difficulties
• Enuresis See Urinary Incontinence and Constipation pathway
• Young people over the age of 16 years who are not in full time secondary education.

How to refer:

Please send electronic referral via SCIgateway to the relevant site (based on patient location) Musselburgh Primary Care Centre or RHCYP > Community Paediatrics.

Our referral form CCH_referral_form docx aids referrers by specifying the relevant information we would like included in a referral.

Referrals are also accepted by completing the referral form above and emailing this to ChildrensWaitingListTeam@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk

Advice

We are happy to offer non-urgent advice about new referrals or patients known to our service. Please refer via SCIgateway indicating you are seeking advice and not necessarily expecting an appointment.

We are also happy to offer telephone advice

–          Edinburgh 0131 312 0505 
–          East and Mid Lothian 0131 446 4123
–          West Lothian   01506 524403 

For advice by email about children and young people already known to our service, please use cch.lothianadmin@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk

Enquire: http://enquire.org.uk/ Scottish Advice Service for Additional Support for Learning.

Signpost (West Lothian):  www.signpost-online.co.uk Tel: 01506 431123. Support for families of children with additional support needs. 

City of Edinburgh Council Parenting courses: www.joininedinburgh.org/parenting-programmes

Wetting and Soiling: www.eric.org.uk

Sleep problems: Please contact their Health Visitor for pre-school children and see www.sleepscotland.org

Get Going Programme, services for children who are overweight or obese:  https://www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk/getgoing/ and consider Paediatric Weight Management Service

Self-referrals can be made by contacting departments directly:

• Speech and language therapy: for local contact details see www.lets-talk.scot.nhs.uk or NHS Lothian Speech and Language Therapy
• Occupational therapy:
  • Edinburgh: contact 0131 3121070
  • West Lothian: 01506 524134
  • East and Midlothian: 0131 446 4009 and ask for OT department
• Physiotherapy
  • Edinburgh: contact 0131 3121079
  • West Lothian: 01506 522068
  • East and Midlothian: 0131 446 4009 and ask for physiotherapy department

Information leaflets

• ASD pathway, info for GPs, parents Paeds ASD assessment Diagnosis leaflet GPs Mar16.pdf
• New diagnosis ASD – information for families about supports Paeds – CCH – Information for families of children with ASD Edinburgh.pdf