The following services are available to families across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly that need specialist support. Please note that some services are located in Devon where families access health services across the Cornwall / Devon border.
Child Health
The Child Health team at Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust look after children from birth up to adult services. Child health includes specialist teams that support:
- neurodevelopmental service
- children in care health team
- safeguarding medical service
- children's community therapy service
- dietetic service for overweight children
Neonatal Unit (NNU)
Babies who need a higher level of medical and nursing support and born after 27 weeks’ gestation are cared for here.
Children’s Community Nurses
Community Children’s Nurses will support your child at home or another setting in the local community. The team will administer intravenous medication, provide nursing support to children who are dependent on technology, for example they are tube fed or have a tracheostomy. They also provide support for children with complex and life limiting conditions and end of life care in collaboration with other community facing services.
Referrals can be accepted from any professional involved with the child or young person.
Visit Children's Community Nurses
Speech and Language Therapy
The speech and language therapy service supports children and young people aged 0 to 19 years who have difficulties with:
- understanding what is said to them
- learning to talk
- talking clearly (saying speech sounds)
- stammering
- swallowing (eating and drinking)
- using language to interact with other people
Visit Speech and Language Therapy
Dental
The Dental helpline gives advice to people on where to find an NHS dentist, and how to access dental care in an emergency.
Tel: 01392 822348
Email: accessdentalhelpline@nhs.net
Smile Together is a primary care service who are providers of emergency dental care in Cornwall
Visit Smile TogetherIf you have an urgent dental problem you can contact their call centre:
- Monday to Thursday - 8.30am–5.00pm
- Friday 8.30am–4.30pm
on 0333 405 0290
Domestic abuse and violence
Safer Futures is a service from First Light that provides early intervention to recovery pathways. Safer Futures helps people aged 5+ who are affected by domestic abuse and/or sexual violence.
Drug and Alcohol Support
We Are With You provider free, confidential support about alcohol, drugs or mental health from one of their local services or online.
Specialist Parenting Team
The Specialist Parenting service supports parents who have a mild to borderline learning disability. The Specialist Parenting service are a range of professionals available to work with families to improve a parent’s skills. They will assess, teach and offer guidance. Their role is to help parents understand the needs of their children and in particular how to:
- keep children safe
- set routines for their baby or child
- access further support and help
- manage their child’s behaviour
Visit the Specialist Parenting Team
Perinatal Mental Health Team
The perinatal mental health teams specialise in the assessment, diagnosis and short-term treatment of women affected by a moderate to severe mental health illness in the preconception, antenatal and postnatal period. The teams promote wellbeing during pregnancy, prevention of relapse and assists with birth planning.
Visit Cornwall Perinatal Mental Health TeamVisit the Plymouth Perinatal Mental Health Team
Visit the Devon Perinatal Mental Health Team
NHS local urgent Mental Health support
You can call them free on 0800 038 530
You can also find support on the Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust website.
Thriving Together
Thriving Together supports parent-infant mental health across Cornwall by strengthening parents’ confidence and their capacity to understand and enjoy their relationship with their baby or child. It is for professionals and anyone working with a child under 5 who would like more support in their work. Thriving Together works with existing services and brings together experts across agencies. They also carry out 1:1 work with families.
Bereavement Support
Penhaligon's Friends is a Cornish charity supporting bereaved children, young people, parents and carers throughout the county. They offer children and young people the chance to meet others and share their experiences, as well as practical resources for children and parents.
Child Protection and Safeguarding
Are you worried about a child or young person?