Health

Parents of children with disabilities or additional needs may have to cope with a relentless programme of medical tests, appointments and hospital visits. They may also encounter an army of different healthcare professionals, none of whom seem to speak to each other. This can be bewildering and exhausting for parents who are already coping with the shock of a diagnosis.

In this section we aim to explain the people and processes you will encounter in healthcare and give you tips for coping with your new role as your child's medical expert.

In Diagnosis we look at the implications of finding out there's something wrong with your child and offer strategies for dealing with this difficult time. Treatment centres and services give details of local medical facilities and health services.  Healthcare professionals is a roll call of the medical staff you may encounter. Continuing care tells you about the services and professionals that will be involved if your child has ongoing healthcare needs. You can also get further information about support groups, rare medical conditions, healthcare complaints and compensation.