HPCI Member Update 22 April 2022

Just a short update this week, with two opportunities to shape health services for children and young people, and some helpful guidance from DSPL8 about where to find support.

Survey seeking family views to improve the Community Paediatric Service in South and West Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust are looking for views from parents and carers on how to improve the Community Paediatricians Service in South and West Hertfordshire.  This survey is anonymous and will not capture any information about your personal circumstances. It should take around 5-10 minutes to complete and is open until 30 April 2022.  www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/Q8GCXSQ  Please do complete this survey if you can.

DSPL 8 guide to services available to families

I thought members would find this guide helpful. It has been produced by DSPL 8 (which covers Dacorum) and is aimed at families with an Autistic child but much of the information is relevant for all families with SEND in Hertfordshire.  I understand that some other DSPLs also produce similar guides, so if you want to find out more about the DSPL in your area click the link.

Chance to help shape research to improve dental examinations for Autistic children.

The Hertfordshire Special Care Dental Service is working with the University College London and other academic health researchers to apply for funding to research dental care for Autistic children. They would like to explore the potential of the use of video glasses to reduce dental anxiety and help Autistic children to co-operate for dental examinations.  This intervention has the potential to help some Autistic children receive dental treatment in local practices without the need for a referral for hospital treatment under general anaesthesia.

This research team wants to make sure that they get the views of both Autistic children and their parents or carers, in order to fully assess the acceptability of video glasses and how best to use them within the dental practice.  They are looking for parents or carers of Autistic children under 16 to help shape the research proposal. This contribution is likely to involve attending research team meetings (virtually) every two to three months and providing feedback/ contributions to the research proposal as it is developed.

If you are interested and willing to be involved, please contact Michelle Stennett at michelle.stennett@ucl.ac.uk for further information.