Pre-school children with healthcare needs

Community paediatricians are doctors who specialise in the care of babies and children.

Our specialist consultants and their teams offer investigation, diagnosis and management of children with a range of neuro-developmental disorders.

These include conditions such as cerebral palsy, developmental delay, autistic spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and muscular dystrophy.

We provide advice and support for children with special educational needs and with statutory statements concerning their needs. We also have expertise in safeguarding children, child protection and looked-after children.

A referral to a community paediatrician is normally made via a GP, health visitor or other health care professional, as well as other agencies such as Social Services, Police and Education (the latter includes school nurses and special educational needs co-ordinators).

For more information and clinics:

Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley
Lead clinician – Dr Chandra Hegde, Consultant Community Paediatrician

Tel: 01322 428240
Email: chandra.hegde@westkentpct.nhs.uk|

Clinics held at:

Darent Valley Hospital, Children’s Resource Centre
Gravesend, Rochester Road Clinic
Swanley, the Oaks Health Centre

Maidstone and Weald
Lead clinician – Dr Elias Cheriyan - Consultant Community Paediatrician

Tel: 01622 795763
Email: e.cheriyan@nhs.net|

Clinics held at:

Aylesford, Preston Hall Hospital, Outpatients
Larkfield Health Centre
Maidstone and Weald, Maidstone Hospital, Children's Centre (pre-school children), and Outpatients
Snodland Health Centre

South West Kent
Lead clinician – Dr Sameena Shakoor, Consultant Community Paediatrician

Tel: 01892 539144
Email: sameena.shakoor@swkentpct.nhs.uk|

Clinics held at:

Borough Green Clinic
Cranbrook, Jockey Lane Clinic
Edenbridge Hospital
Sevenoaks Hospital
Tonbridge, Baltic Road Clinic
Tonbridge, Trench Wood Surgery
Tunbridge Wells Homeopathic Hospital
Tunbridge Wells, Lansdowne Road Clinic

Special needs nursery

The ‘Special needs nursery’ in Dartford is a collaborative initiative between health and education teams. Our aim is to deliver the best possible healthcare and education for the children in our community, through the delivery of planned nursery sessions for children with special needs.

At Darent Valley Hospital we are doing this in conjunction with parents, nursery staff and members of our multi-disciplinary team. The service is normally offered to youngsters between two and five years of age and is available Mon-Thurs mornings.

For more information:

Nursery manager – Barbara Queenbarrows

Tel: 01322 428238
Email: barbara.queenbarrows@westkentpct.nhs.uk|

Children’s Resource Centre
Darent Valley Hospital
Dartford
Kent DA2 8DA

Useful Websites

NHS Choices
Information on every health issue, with links to other useful websites
SCOPE
National charity providing advice and support for people with Cerebral Palsy
Brainwave
A charity helping parents and families of those with Cerebral Palsy, Downs Syndrome and Developmental Delay