The Community Paediatric service provides healthcare for children up to the age of 18 (or 19 years if in a special school) living in Wolverhampton or those who are registered with a Wolverhampton GP Surgery.

We work with vulnerable groups of children including those with developmental disorders and disabilities, complex health needs, and at risk of abuse or are being abused.

We serve a diverse, young population, delivering high-quality care to children and young people in a community paediatric setting.

Community Paediatricians have a vital role in planning and implementing local strategies to improve the health of all children in Wolverhampton.

The service is based at:

The Gem Centre,

Neachells Lane,

Wolverhampton,

WV11 3PG

Our services are also delivered from:

• Community Health Centres including Bilston Health Centre and Pendeford Health Centre
• Wolverhampton special schools: Broadmeadow, Tettenhall Wood, Green Park, Penn Hall, Westcroft, Penn Fields
• New Cross Hospital including Children’s Outpatients A22, Children’s Ward A21, and the Emergency Department
• Patients’ own home

The people we see

Our service is for children and young people aged 0-18 years old living in Wolverhampton or registered with a Wolverhampton GP. This extends to under 19 years for children educated full time in a Wolverhampton special school.

The service will provide assessment, diagnosis, treatment and follow up with a paediatrician (when there is a medical need) of children that are appropriately referred into the service with the following needs:

• Developmental and neurodevelopmental disorders including:
  • ASD
  • ADHD
  • Other developmental conditions (i.e. developmental delay, genetic disorders)
  • Neuro-disability
  • Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) service
• Vulnerable children and families including:
  • Safeguarding medical assessment for physical abuse and neglect
  • Children and young people in care (CYPiC) including those going through the adoption process.
• Complex and/or long-term health needs including:
  • Visual impairment
  • Aetiological investigation of hearing impairment
  • Complex Continence Issues (which require specialist assessment)
  • Palliative and End of Life care

New patients

In order to be offered an appointment, someone must have referred you to our service (you cannot self-refer to this service).

Referrals for community services are accepted from Doctors, Health Visitors, School Nurses, Specialist Community Children’s Nurses, audiology, physiotherapy and occupational therapy, SALT, dietetics, Educational Physiologists, mental health professionals and Special Needs Early Years’ Service via letter or email.

Referrals will also be accepted via the Electronic Referral Service from GPs for patients who meet the inclusion criteria.

If a referral has been accepted, you will be notified via a letter in the post to confirm a clinic appointment.

We will call you before an appointment to check the contact details we hold for you are correct.

If you do not bring your child to the pre-arranged clinic appointment on two separate occasions, your child will be discharged – with exceptions made in the instance of a safeguarding concern. A new referral will be necessary should your child still require care by one of our Community Paediatricians.

Existing patients

You will be notified of a clinic appointment via a letter in the post. On average appointments take 35-45 minutes.

If you do not bring your child to the pre-arranged clinic appointment, your child will be discharged. A new referral will be necessary should your child still require care by one of our Community Paediatricians.

Clinic Appointment queries

The Appointments Team:

Tel: 01902 442481 option 2

Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm

Out of hours

Out of hours contact your GP or 111, or in an emergency your local A&E/ PAU department.

For Information and support for children & young people with special educational needs and disabilities aged 0-25 – https://win.wolverhampton.gov.uk/kb5/wolverhampton/directory/family.page?familychannel=4

Autism West Midlands is the leading charity in the West Midlands for people on the autism spectrum – https://autismwestmidlands.org.uk/

Contact is a charity which supports families, brings families together and helps families take action for others – https://contact.org.uk/

In the UK today there are around half a million children and young people with brain conditions that result in complex medical, educational and social support needs. Cerebra is a charity that helps these children and their families discover a better life together – www.cerebra.org.uk

ERIC is the national charity dedicated to improving children’s bowel and bladder health. Their  mission is to reduce the impact of continence problems on children and their families – https://www.eric.org.uk/

The Downs Syndrome Association is a national organisation, committed to improving the quality of life of people who have Down’s syndrome, promoting their right to be included on a full and equal basis with others – https://www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/

The Sleep Charity gives advice, education or support for children, teenagers, adults, workplaces or professional – https://thesleepcharity.org.uk/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIl6Pi8OTw9QIVTbDtCh3i1wFnEAAYASAAEgKJovD_BwE

Family Lives provides targeted early intervention and crisis support to families – https://www.familylives.org.uk/

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children may help with the extra costs of looking after a child who:

• is under 16
• has difficulties walking or needs much more looking after than a child of the same age who does not have a disability

Find out more – https://www.gov.uk/disability-living-allowance-children

Visit Wolverhampton’s local offer, the essential guide for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities aged 0-25 and their families – https://win.wolverhampton.gov.uk/kb5/wolverhampton/directory/localoffer.page?localofferchannel=0

We understand that it can often feel scary and overwhelming going into an unfamiliar setting. Please join us for a little look around the GEM Centre, hearing about the centre’s history, facilities, and some of the services that operate from here.