On this page you will find guidance on Health and Social Care in Cornwall - including out of county and NHS services, short breaks and support for children and young people with disabilities.
Health services in Cornwall are commissioned on behalf of all local people across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, by NHS Kernow. Cornwall has a Designated Medical Officer (DMO). For information about how NHS services in Cornwall work see below or find out more at www.kernowccg.nhs.uk
Social Care information about children’s social care services within Cornwall; such as Activities for Disabled children, Occupational Therapy and Residential short breaks, can be found on the Cornwall council website.
Universal, Specialist and Out of County Support
Universal support: Children and young people’s needs are met through a range of NHS services, some are universally available such as GPs and health visiting services, and some are more specialised and need an assessment or referral from a health or social care professional to access.
Specialist Support: NHS Kernow commissions a range of specialist services to meet the health needs of children and young people with:
- physical or sensory difficulties
- developmental delay or impairment
- maintaining a healthy weight
- speech, language and communication needs
- difficulties with eating, drinking and swallowing
- epilepsy
- diabetes
- mental health issues
- complex and technology dependent health care needs
- life limiting/ life threatening conditions
Out of county support: Occasionally, due to the complexity of a child or young person’s health need, they have to be referred to highly specialised services which are outside Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, for example for specialist surgery. If this is needed then a local Consultant will make the referral. The vast majority of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities will find the support they need to meet their health needs is available locally.
Children’s and NHS Continuing Care
Children’s Continuing Care: Sometimes parents and carers need additional support to help them meet their child’s health needs – in these cases NHS Kernow commissions additional services over and above what is already available. For those under the age of 18 there is an assessment process called Children’s Continuing Care which may indicate that more than one agency i.e. health, social care or education need to be involved in the care. It may also indicate that this additional support is needed to be bought by NHS Kernow.
NHS Continuing Health Care: For young people over the age of 18 there is a similar process called NHS Continuing Health Care. This is different in that if a young person meets the criteria then all of their care needs (health and social care) are paid for by the NHS.
Some people may be eligible for a Personal Health Budget - you can find out more about Personal Health Budgets on the dedicated national website at www.personalhealthbudgets.england.nhs.uk
Information about personal budgets can be found on the NHS England website and information and help managing your personal budget, including employing PAs, and purchasing services and products, can be found on the PHBChoices website.
Providers of children and young people’s NHS services in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
Providers of children and young people’s NHS services in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
Providers of Children’s and Young People’s NHS services in Cornwall: NHS Kernow commissions five main providers of children and young people’s NHS services in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. You can read more about the children’s services they offer on their websites:
- Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, which provides child and adolescent mental health services and specialist children’s services, including speech and language therapy, community nursing services and learning disability services.
- The Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust, Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust and North Devon District Hospital, which provide acute care and general hospital services as well as Community Paediatrician, and some community services, similar to CFT above
- Peninsula Community Health, which provides services including specialist dentistry; district nursing services
Social Care services
Information about children’s social care services within Cornwall such as Activities for Disabled children, Occupational Therapy and Residential short breaks can be found on the Cornwall Council website.
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