Cerebral Palsy

If you are concerned that your child may have Cerebral Palsy:

Please discuss this with your GP, health visitor, School Health Nurse, or your local children’s centre. They will be able to discuss your concerns and if appropriate access a referral for a health assessment with a Community Paediatrician and a Physiotherapist.

If your child is school age please discuss this with your School Health Nurse, they will work with you, the Community Paediatrician and the school to make sure appropriate educational support is available.

CCHP services that may also be involved:

  • Community Paediatricians
  • Physiotherapy
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Speech and Language Therapy
  • Children with Learning Disabilities Team / SSCLD
  • Health Visitor
  • School Health Nurse
  • Occupational Therapy

If you do need to see a Physiotherapist, they aim to see you within 3-6 weeks of reciept of referral. You will also be invited for assessment with a paediatrician, and within 6 weeks of this assessment a team of appropriate services will be co-ordinated to offer the appropriate support.

If you are referred to a Community Paediatrician, please expect an 'opt-in' letter within 8 weeks of reciept of the referral.
When you recieve this 'opt-in' letter please make contact as requested to arrange your appointment. If we do not hear back from you within a week of this letter, you will be sent one further 'opt-in' letter. If we do not hear from you within two weeks of this, it is then assummed you no longer wish to be seen, and a letter will be sent confirming that you have been discharged from the service.

Please visit NHS Choices for more information about Cerebral Palsy.

Cerebral Palsy

Living with Cerebral Palsy

Read about a local family's experience of living with cerebral palsy and meeting CCHP profesionals:

More family stories also available in the Your Say section