09/09/2020
Thank you
We want to thank you and your families for your patience recently as we have worked hard to maintain as many children’s community health services as possible during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Whilst the vast majority of these services have continued (in most cases virtually), we recognise that some services have had to prioritise access for children whose clinical needs were most urgent. Please accept our apologies for the concern we know this will have created for your family and any service waits which may have increased for you as a result.
We now have a plan to resume all children’s community health services, including where families have had to wait to access a service. We want to be honest with you that it will take some months to fully achieve this. These services include:
- 0-19 School Nursing and Health Visiting service
- Children’s Community Nursing
- Community Paediatric service (Edwin Lobo Child
- Development Centre, Redgrave Gardens)
- Therapy services
- Audiology and Eye services
Whilst the government is taking steps to ease the country out of lockdown, we are still in a pandemic and our priority is to ensure your family’s safety and the safety of our staff. For the foreseeable future, clinicians will therefore continue to deliver high quality services:
Virtually
Wherever possible e.g. online consultations or via the telephone; recognising the flexibility this approach offers families whilst also addressing the risks involved of services in close proximity.
Face to face
Where the clinician feels they are unable to be clinically effective via a virtual contact (please be assured that for these appointments we will wear masks, gloves and aprons to protect your family and our staff from the possible transmission of Covid-19.
All our services have well developed plans to meet the needs of children and families virtually. All clinicians have the technology to offer video consultations and this has proved beneficial to many families as we have faced this pandemic together.
Contact us
Please do feel free to contact our services using the following details (Monday to Friday 9am until 5pm).
Luton Single Point of Access (SPA)
Telephone: 0333 405 0087
(0-19 Universal Services - Health Visiting & School Nursing, Community Paediatrics, Looked After Children, Community Paediatric, Audiology Service, Haemoglobinopathy)
Children's Community Nursing and Continuing Care
Telephone: 0333 405 0079
Eye service
Telephone: 01234 897445
Nutrition and Dietetics
Telephone: 01582 707 400
Occupational Therapy
Telephone: 01234 310274
Speech and Language Therapy
Telephone: 01234 310 712
The two text-based services below are also available:
- Parentline: our confidential text message service connecting parents and health visitors via text on 07507 331886
- ChatHealth: our confidential text messaging service for 11-19 year olds via text on 07507 616070
We look forward to keeping you updated with our restoration plans as they develop. Please be assured of our ongoing commitment to meeting the needs of your family in a safe and effective way, and do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.