Support for children with learning disabilities in east Surrey

First Community Health and Care has taken over the contract to provide dietetic services for children with learning disabilities in east Surrey.

The company’s children’s dietitians will be supporting children and young people under 19 with a learning disability who have dietary and nutritional problems. Children with a learning disability can often experience eating and swallowing difficulties which can lead to missing out on the essential nutrients they need for their physical and mental development. The team assesses children and develops treatment plans to meet the individual nutritional needs of each child. Children may need to be supported by the service throughout their childhood and their plans will be regularly reviewed and updated as their needs change.

Families who have been receiving support from the previous providers, Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, will be introduced to the new team within the coming weeks.

Referrals can be made by GPs and other health and social care professionals directly to the dietetic team.