Provision of specialised therapy services for children with neurological disorders

Neurodisability is an umbrella term for conditions associated with impairment involving the nervous system and includes conditions such as Cerebral Palsy (CP) and Acquired brain injury (ABI). Children and Young People with a Neurodisability have a range of impairments but many have complex and continuing need and as a result are frequent users of the health service at all levels, community, primary care inpatient and outpatient settings. Acquired brain injury (ABI) is injury to the brain caused by an identifiable event such as trauma, hypoxia, metabolic disorders or infection. The effects of an ABI on children can vary greatly and will depend on the part of the brain that suffered the damage and the amount of damage caused. The effects can range from mild to severe and may include changes in a child or young person’s physical ability, cognitive skills, personality, behaviour and how they communicate. Therapeutic intervention for this group of service users is delivered by Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language therapists in conjunction with the Child or Young Person and their family using a multidisciplinary team around the child approach in order to meet patient goals and optimise outcomes. The Consortium require external support for children within the inclusion criteria outlined in the specification as an enhancement to current Hospital services.