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So difficult to piece together how it works

Posted By Hidden Name

"So difficult to piece together how it works"

About: Bromley Healthcare / Community paediatricians

(as a service user),

I’m amazed that you don’t have a simple flyer that every GP and school and other setting can offer to parents from the very beginning of questions about whether their child might be autistic or have ADHD or any other neurological difference/condition.

We’re making our way through the process now and it has been so so difficult to piece together how it works, and how we can best support as parents.

A really simple visual guide and explanation feels like a basic comms tool to ensure care is reaching everyone equally. At the moment I feel like my ability to navigate bureaucracy and advocate relentlessly for my child is giving us an advantage (eg we got a cancellation appointment - no one tells you this is even possible).  That just isn’t right - all children need support and a level playing field to get there.

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Responses

Response from Sharon Cranfield, Patient Experience Lead, Safer Care Team, Bromley Healthcare 4 months ago
Sharon Cranfield
Patient Experience Lead, Safer Care Team,
Bromley Healthcare

Submitted on 23/01/2025 at 09:50
Published on Care Opinion at 09:50

Dear Hidden Name,

Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback of your experience of the Community Paediatric Service.

I am sorry to hear of the problems you have had navigating through the system. If you provide your child's name and date of birth, and a contact number to bromh.feedback@nhs.net, or contact me on 0208 315 8791 and I can arrange for a member of the Community Paediatric Service to contact you to discuss your concerns.

In the meantime, below is the link to our website where you can access further information: https://www.bromleyhealthcare.org.uk/explore-our-services/community-paediatricians/

Best wishes, Sharon

Sharon Cranfield, Patient Experience Lead, Bromley Healthcare

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Update posted by Hidden Name (a service user)

Thank you, but this isn’t about my child and I don’t want you to link this feedback with their record.

If you read it, you’ll see it’s exactly the opposite - it’s intended to highlight a simple way of making the system better for everyone. Not just those who are lucky enough to have the time, skills and wider support networks themselves. Every child matters.

Response from Sharon Cranfield, Patient Experience Lead, Safer Care Team, Bromley Healthcare 4 months ago
Sharon Cranfield
Patient Experience Lead, Safer Care Team,
Bromley Healthcare

Submitted on 24/01/2025 at 11:56
Published on Care Opinion at 11:56

Thank you for your feedback. As a result we are creating a leaflet that will be available for GPs and schools to provide to parents who are starting to think that their child may need to enter assessment for neurodiversity. This will include information on the referral process, signpost on how and where to access support during the process and a simple breakdown of what the pathway will be. We are also adapting our service acceptance letters to include this information for those that haven't accessed it pre-referral and looking at how we can make this information available for people when attending their appointment.

With best wishes,

Director of Children and Young People Services

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