Health (secondary)
Find out about health services on offer within Wiltshire for those in the SEND community.
If you are looking for other services that are not SEND specific visit MECC Link (opens new window) which signposts you to lots of Wiltshire health and wellbeing services in one place.
Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC)
Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC) services perform a critical role in keeping the population healthy. The NHS responds to more than 110 million urgent calls or visits every year, so it is essential that the system works effectively.
Both urgent and emergency care services play a specific part in supporting patients to receive the right care, by the right person, as quickly as possible.
Emergency care involves life-threatening illnesses or accidents which require immediate treatment from the ambulance service (phone 999) and an emergency department (A&E).
An ambulance will take you to the closest A&E with capacity to deal with your immediate needs. For example if you are in Trowbridge that might be Bath Emergency Department / A&E (ruh.nhs.uk) (opens new window) or, closer to Sailsbury, they are served by Salisbury Emergency Department / A&E (salisbury.nhs.uk) (opens new window).
NHS 111 is there to make it easier and quicker for patients to get the right advice or treatment they need, be that for their physical or mental health.
In many cases NHS 111 clinicians and call advisors can give patients the advice they need without using another service, such as their GP or A&E.
NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can access this service by calling 111, or going to NHS 111 online (opens new window).
To find out more about NHS 111, visit NHS England: About NHS 111 (opens new window).
Wiltshire Health and Care provides services from six community hospital sites. Three of these hospitals have inpatient wards: Chippenham, Warminster and Savernake. There are Minor Injury Units at the Chippenham and Trowbridge hospital sites.
For more information on these Hospitals, and their services, visit Community hospitals (wiltshirehealthandcare.nhs.uk) (opens new window).
Early recognition
As young people develop they may need more support with certain activities or may develop slower in certain areas. It is important to discuss this with the health professionals that are regularly available like your GP or school nurses, they may suggest contacting one of the following teams. You may also want to look into the the EHC assessmentswhich includes an Early Support Hub in its process.
Annual health checks
People with a learning disability often have poorer physical and mental health than other people. This does not need to be the case. Annual health checks are for adults and young people aged 14 or over with a learning disability. To read more information about the annual health checks for people with learning disabilities, and their family/carers visit: NHS Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire (ICB): Annual health checks (opens new window), NHS: Annual health checks -Learning disabilities (opens new window) or Mencap: Annual Health Checks (opens new window).
There are also a number of great videos that can help you understand what to expect:
- YouTube: Harshi’s learning disability annual health check and health action plan (opens new window)
- YouTube: Annual Health Checks for people with learning disabilities (opens new window)
- YouTube: Why health checks are important for people with learning disabilities (opens new window)
Community Paediatrics is a team of children's doctors in Wiltshire who see children and young people, and their families, in the community. We investigate and diagnose a range of difficulties including Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and delayed development.
Our Paediatricians listen to, assess and decide the best way to help children with a developmental impairment, physical and/or learning disability or complex health needs (e.g., Autism or Cerebral Palsy).
We also carry out specialist assessments of school-age children; where there is a concern regarding a neuro-developmental disorder, for example, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASDs).
To find out more or to find out how to refer, visit Community Paediatrics (wiltshirechildrensservices.co.uk) (opens new window).
The Community Children's Learning Disability Health Service is a specialist team of learning disability nurses and support worker that are commissioned to support children aged 0 to 18 years with a moderate to severe learning disability. These children have significant cognitive delay and usually have access to specialist nursery provision, Portage, or have an Educational Health Care Plan.
The service undertakes assessments in the home and provides support to improve sleep, behaviour including antisocial and sexualised behaviour, emotional literacy such as anger and anxiety management, faddy eating, and the behavioural aspects of daily living skills development such as delayed toilet training.
To find out more or to find out how to refer, visit Wiltshire Children's Services: Learning Disability Health Service (opens new window).
Wiltshire Children's Community Audiology Service is a team of specialist paediatric audiologists and experienced clinical support staff, supported by our administrative team. Our community-based service provides hearing assessment for any child referred from birth to 16 years old, or 19 years old if they have Special Educational Needs. We also assess and care for any child with permanent hearing loss requiring monitoring of hearing and communication development.
To find out more or to find out how to refer, visit Wiltshire Children's Services: Children’s Community Audiology (opens new window).
Swindon Paediatric Audiology provides a comprehensive, family friendly, integrated screening, diagnostic and rehabilitation service, for babies, children and young adults with hearing difficulties.
We are a highly skilled and experienced team that aims to enable children to reach their full social and educational potential via identification and appropriate management of hearing impairment.
The Paediatric Community Audiology service offers open referral for any child up to the age of eighteen years; this means anyone can refer children if there is concern about the child's hearing or communication difficulties including parents and guardians.
Services provided:
- comprehensive and developmental age appropriate hearing assessments
- newborn hearing screening for all newborn babies
- electro-physiological diagnostic assessment under natural sleep or general anaesthetic
- parental support and advice
- management of permanent and temporary hearing loss through ongoing monitoring of hearing, provision of modern digital hearing aid technology and follow up after care
- long term monitoring of young people at risk of developing hearing impairment
- onward referral to other specialist services if required
- working in collaboration with ENT doctors, health visitors, school nurses and specialist education teams
- transition to Adult service which aims to prepare young adults for the adult hearing aid service and to provide support through the move to further education and/or employment
- final transfer to the Adult Hearing Aid Service does not take place until the young adult is ready, usually once they have started full time employment. This can occur between the ages of 17 and 25 and is a decision made by the young person and their clinician
We offer clinics for hearing assessment at:
- West Swindon Health Centre
- Great Western Hospital
To find out more visit Great Western Hospitals (GWH): Audiology (opens new window).
Paediatric Audiology is based in the Children's Outpatient's department on level 3, near the Sarum Entrance of Salisbury District Hospital. The majority of our appointments will be located in Children's Outpatient's but older children may be seen in Adult Audiology, also on Level 3 near the Main Entrance of the hospital.
We assess the hearing of children from birth to 18 years old. We also assess and monitor children who have a permanent or a temporary hearing loss and may wear hearing aids, up until they finish full time education.
For further information you can email sft.audiology@nhs.net (opens new window) or telephone 01722 429335.
The Wiltshire Autism Assessment Service (WAAS) is an assessment-only service for children who are showing signs of possible autism. The service offers a number of different assessment pathways which are selected based on each child's needs.
Once a referral to the service has been accepted, families will receive an initial telephone consultation with an autism practitioner to discuss next steps in detail and to explain where to find support for the child and family's needs. Families of children who have been accepted to the service can sign up to receive the monthly email newsletter from the service, by contacting the Single Point of Access 0300 247 0090.
To find out more or to find out how to refer, visit Wiltshire Children's Services: Wiltshire Autism Assessment Service (WAAS) (opens new window).
Early support
It is hugely beneficial to get support as early as possible once a need has been identified. This helps a young person prepare for the next steps in their journey in life and learning in the best possible way.
The Wiltshire Speech and Language Therapy team supports parents, families, teaching staff, child-minders, and early years staff across Wiltshire. They offer support to children aged 0 to 18 years, who experience problems with their voice, speech, language, communication, stammering, or have swallowing difficulties. They do this by working on communication, understanding, talking, and speech sounds.
The service also provides formal and informal training to support the Team Around the Child to best meet the communication needs of each child and young person and works closely with preschools and schools across the Wiltshire community
To find out more or to find out how to refer, visit Wiltshire Children's Services: Speech and Language Therapy (HCRG Care Group) (opens new window).
Selective mutism
For more information about selective mutism support in Wiltshire please visit:
The Wiltshire School Nursing Service is a team of professionals holding a range of skills and qualifications to provide confidential advice, care and treatment to children and young people who attend a Wiltshire state school. Each secondary school also receives a weekly drop in for young people to independently seek advice for any health concerns.
School nurses can offer support, advice or signposting to other sources of information/support regarding your child's health on specific topics including:
- healthy weight and healthy eating
- bed wetting
- sleep problems
- hearing and vision screening (in reception year)
- advice on managing and signposting for a range of health conditions where other health professionals are not involved
- emotional health including low mood, panic, stress, worry, early signs of anxiety, anger difficulties, feeling overwhelmed, building resilience (where specialist services are not involved)
- puberty and sexual health
- key stage of life transition, i.e. moving on to secondary school or adult services
The service provides a duty school nurse line where professionals, parent/carers or young people can contact a member of the team between 9am to 5pm Monday - Friday through the single point of access (0300 247 0090).
The service also provides ChatHealth (opens new window) - a confidential, anonymous texting service for 11 to 19 year olds to ask for health advice on a wide range of issues including: relationships, bullying, emotional health, sleep, exam stress. Text 07480 635513 Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm
To find out more or to find out how to refer, visit HCRG Care Group: School Nursing (Wiltshire Children's Services:) (opens new window).
Family Nurse Partnership (FNP): The programme (opens new window) is an intensive programme of support for young parents during the transition from pregnancy to parenthood. It supports young parents give their children the best start in life and is known to improve child development. FNP is licensed for use with parents under 24 years, however, in Wiltshire it is aimed at expectant young mums aged 19 and under at conception, and their partners.
Ask your midwife to put you in touch with the local FNP team (opens new window).
For additional training around parenting, including relationship and conflict courses email parenting@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window) or visit:
The Wiltshire Integrated Therapies Service is a unique team of qualified Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, and Therapy Assistants who pride themselves in their multi-disciplinary approach to meet the therapy needs of children and young people from 0 to18 years, in the Wiltshire area.
The therapists support children and young people to participate as fully as possible in everyday activities where emotional, psychological, or physical difficulties might hinder their ability to grow, learn, socialise and play. The team provide assessments as well as intervention to help children and young people to get the most from life and achieve their potential.
The importance of each child's individuality is at the core of the services offered to families, with the aim to make assessments and interventions fun and engaging. Working together enables therapists to meet the child's goals and individual needs.
To find out more or to find out how to refer, visit Wiltshire Children's Services: Integrated Therapies (opens new window).
A community nursing service for children and young people 0 to 18 years who have a diagnosis that is life limiting/threatening, or long term and complex, and where there is an active nursing need that requires monitoring and nursing support in the community. This includes end of life planning and nursing care.
Our team also provides specialist training on enteral feeding (the delivery of food into the body if the child is unable to receive food by mouth), meeting respiratory needs, and anaphylaxis and administration of buccal midazolam (for which school staff can receive training, if provided by the School Nursing Service).
To find out more or to find out how to refer, visit https://wiltshirechildrensservices.co.uk/ (opens new window) or call our Single Point of Access on 0300 247 0090 and ask to speak to the duty Community Children's Nurse. For further information on community nursing, visit Wiltshire Children's Services: Children’s Community Nursing (opens new window).
Wiltshire SHOUT
Wiltshire residents can text WILTS to 85258 to access free, confidential mental health support from a trained volunteer who will aim to get them to a safe and calm place. This will include coming up with a plan around how they are going to support themselves moving forward, and signposting to local support agencies where appropriate. They can help with anxiety and stress, depression or sadness, suicidal thoughts, self-harm, panic attacks, loneliness or isolation, abuse and bullying.
This service is available to Wiltshire residents of all ages, it is available 24/7 and won't appear on the bill.
Mental Health Support Apps
These apps have been designed to help users to manage things that they might find difficult when experiencing low mood, anxiety, or stress. They work by teaching skills and strategies to manage these feelings in the moment, and to help reduce their impact in the future. Some of the apps can also direct users to sources of more information, local resources, and who to contact in a crisis.
For more information visit:
Other supporting health services
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) is an NHS service that helps children and young people under the age of 18 years.
They provide assessment and support to children, young people and their families who are experiencing moderate to severe mental health difficulties.
To find out more visit:
You may have questions or require help on the subject of sexual health. If you feel you want to talk to someone other than your parents or carers there are lots of ways you can get the help and information you need.
No Worries! Wiltshire
Wiltshire offers a free and confidential sexual health advice service for those aged 13 to 24 years old. This includes some of the following services:
- emergency hormonal contraception
- pregnancy testing
- condoms and condom demonstrations
- Chlamydia testing and treatment
- contraception information
- advice and support.
For contact information and more details about the service visit:
Facebook: No Worries! Wiltshire (opens new window)
You can also visit the following page for more information on sexual health:
WiSe Wiltshire Sexual Health
WiSe offer Sexually Transmitted Infection testing and treatment, contraception and HIV services in Wiltshire. The service offers confidential, non-judgemental service to people of all ages, genders and orientation and is open access to all.
To find out more about the services available and book an appointment visit WiSe Sexual Health (opens new window).
Doctors surgery
You can find out about all the methods of contraception available through your Doctors surgery, you can work out which of the methods is suitable for you. Contact your doctors surgery to make an appointment with a healthcare professional to discuss. If you're under 16 and want contraception, the doctor, nurse will support you and ensure you fully understand the information you're given and the decisions you're making. Doctors and nurses work under guidelines when dealing with people under 16.
Wiltshire School Aged Immunisation Service is predominantly a school-based service for the delivery school aged vaccinations in line with the National Childhood Immunisation Programme across B&NES, Wiltshire, Swindon, and Devon. This includes Diphtheria/Tetanus/Polio boosters, Meningitis ACWY vaccination, Human Papilloma Virus immunisations and annual school aged seasonal influenza protection for eligible cohorts.
Immunisations are offered to all children/young people, including home educated children and others not in school, and are offered both in the school setting and in community clinic venues by appointment. They are also able to offer MMR vaccinations in the clinic setting for those who have not previously had 2 doses. Information is shared with parents and young people by working in partnership with schools and home education links, and immunisations are given with consent gained from parents/carers using an electronic consent system.
Responses to outbreaks requiring immunisation, such as measles, are also supported as part of the wider immunisation service.
The service is delivered by our team of nurses who are fully trained in the management and administration of all school aged vaccinations led by Senior Immunisation Nurses and supported by a team of Support Workers and business support staff. The team are experienced in working with all age groups and able to support those with special needs and requirements, including needle anxieties to access their vaccinations.
They have a Single Point of Access phone line, available every working day from 9am to 4.30pm, with trained business support staff who are able to support with queries and completion of on-line consent forms.
The team can be contacted on vcl.immunisations@nhs.net (opens new window) or by calling 0300 247 0082.
Further information can also be found at HCRG Care Group: Immunisation Service (Wiltshire Children's Services) (opens new window).
A service for children and young people aged 0 to 18 years who have been assessed and meet Children's Continuing Health Care.
To find out more or to find out how to refer, visit Wiltshire Children's Services: Children’s Continuing Care (opens new window).
Referrals for palliative care and hospices advice will usually come from continuing healthcare professionals already working with children and young people. You can find additional support and information on Together for short lives (togetherforshortlives.org.uk) (opens new window). On the site there are helplines and information about support on the various stages of healthcare need.
Close to Wiltshire is the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children which is a potential point of referral to their Paediatric Palliative Care and Bereavement Support team (uhbristol.nhs.uk) (opens new window).
You may also find it useful to complete the form for the recommended summary plan for emergency care and treatment (ReSPECT) (opens new window) which has been implemented across BaNES, Swindon and Wiltshire from 4 October 2021. The ReSPECT form documents a patient's personalised recommendations for their clinical care and treatment in a future emergency in which they are unable to make or express choices. It replaces and builds on information held in a Treatment Escalation Plan.
Julia's House
Julia's House is not a typical children's hospice. They provide practical and emotional support for families caring for a child with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition, providing frequent and regular support in their own homes, in the community or at their hospices.
For more information visit Julia's House (juliashouse.org) (opens new window).
Naomi House and Jacksplace
Naomi House and Jacksplace are hospices supporting life limited and life threatened children and young adults. When a child or young adult is diagnosed with a life limiting condition, Naomi House and Jacksplace can become their home from home. Their nursing, care, play and family support teams are experts in delivering the crucial emotional, spiritual, developmental, clinical and holistic care that children and young adults with some of the most complex medical needs require.
They offer vital respite support, giving families the chance to recharge their batteries and regroup in a calm, fun and welcoming environment. In times of emergency they are there, giving families the help they need through difficult times. And at the end of a child or young adult's life, they pull out all the stops to give them a peaceful and dignified end, surrounded by loved ones.
For more information visit Naomi House (naomihouse.org.uk) (opens new window).
Helen & Douglas House
Helen & Douglas House helps local families cope with the challenges of looking after a terminally ill baby or child who will die prematurely.
Helen & Douglas House is a homely place for local children, living with life-limiting and terminal conditions, and their families. They provide care in a warm, loving environment. Their hospice is filled with laughter, whilst also being peaceful place where families can create happy memories in their last days, weeks, months or years together.
For more information visit Helen & Douglas House (helenanddouglas.org.uk) (opens new window).
Charlton Farm
Charlton Farm aims to help and support families who face the emotional and physical strain of caring for children who, sadly, are not expected to live into adulthood. This does not make Charlton Farm a sad place, although sadnesses are faced together. Charlton Farm is a place of love, happiness and friendship. They hope to provide a haven, a place where children and their families can be nurtured and cosseted, returning home with renewed vigour and a sense of anticipation for the next visit.
For more information visit Charlton Farm - children's Hospice (chsw.org.uk) (opens new window).
Jessie May - Home Support
Specialist Jessie May nurses provide at home nursing and respite care for children and young people that have a terminal or life-limiting condition throughout the South West.
They have been providing free specialist at home support since 1996, and it is only through the generosity of their supporters that they can continue to be there for families for many years to come.
For more information visit Jessie May - Hospice at Home (jessiemay.org.uk) (opens new window).
Connect - Turning Point
The Wiltshire Substance Use Service works with residents of all ages, offering support and education to people who want to address their substance use, offering support to the wider family network too. This support is free and confidential and can be delivered either in hub or in the community whilst maintaining high levels of confidentiality.
For self referral and further information visit:
Connect homepage (opens new window)
You can also find more advice and support from services like The Wrap (opens new window) and Wiltshire SHOUT on the advice and support page.
The main Wiltshire Council website also provides more information on substance use, and where you can go for support. You can also complete a confidential self-assessment if you are concerned about how much you or someone else is drinking. For more information visit:
Another source of advice and help is the Talk to FRANK website (opens new window) which provides information on types of drugs, the impacts and where you can go for help.
The Children's Bladder and Bowel Service is a nurse led service that assesses the needs of children who have daytime or night-time wetting, or who experience constipation following first line intervention from their GP. The service provides containment products for school age children who are incontinent day and night, and are working towards toilet training or are assessed as requiring products long term to meet their need.
To find out more or to find out how to refer, visit Wiltshire Children's Services: Bladder and Bowel (opens new window).
The Children Looked After (CLA) Health team provides support and assessment for all children and young people who come into care. When a child or young person comes into care, they will have an Initial Health Assessment (IHA) - this is a statutory health assessment that is required to be completed within 28 days of coming into care. It is completed by a paediatrician or an appropriately trained medical practitioner.
A healthcare plan will be developed and shared with the young person and professionals around them. After this the child or young person's health is reviewed by specialist nurses who include specialist CLA nurses, health visitors and school nurses once or twice a year.
To find out more or to find out how to refer, visit HCRG Care Group: Initial Health Assessment (opens new window).
Wiltshire Health and Care
Wiltshire Health and Care (WHC) is a partnership focused solely on delivering improved community services in Wiltshire. Their services include, but are not limited to, the following:
- minor injuries
- physiotherapy
- wheelchair access
- respiratory
- community hospitals
To find out more, visit: Wiltshire Health and Care: Our services (opens new window).
If you did not find what you are looking for please get in touch via our contact us page, feedback helps us improve our services and information.
Dynamic support registers (DSRs) and Care (Education) and Treatment Reviews (C(E)TRs) are essential elements of the pathway providing people with a learning disability and autistic people with appropriate support and care at the right time - so that they can lead the lives they want to and meet their ambitions and aspirations; and can stay safely and healthily in the community or return to this as soon as possible.
The purpose of the Dynamic Support Register (DSR) is to identify people who with appropriate, proactive intervention and support can be prevented from unnecessary or inappropriate admission to mental health or specialist hospitals.
The DSR process enables an opportunity for communication where a person's support needs can be reviewed, and issues escalated where appropriate.
To find out more visit:
A personal budget is the money Wiltshire Council allocates to an individual to meet their assessed support needs.
An outcome based assessment will be carried out to establish an approximate figure for how much the council would need to spend to meet an individual's needs.
A personal health budget is the money that can be made available to a child or young person with complex, long-term and/or life-limiting health conditions, who is assessed as needing continuing health care.
100% of continuing care eligible children (under 18s) are offered a Personal Health Budget as a mechanism to deliver personalised care.
Currently there are 14 eligible children in Wiltshire, 9 of which have their care provided via a Personal Health Budget.
7 of these children have EHCPs. The primary offer is a Personal Health Budget, there is no application process per se. Not all Parents/Carers would seek this route, instead preferring to take up existing community care packages.
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