Children’s disability support
What is a disability?
The
Equality Act 2010 says that a person has a disability if they
have "a physical or mental impairment that has a 'substantial' and
'long term' negative effect on your ability to do normal daily
activities."
'Substantial' means that it takes much longer than it usually
would to complete a task or activity, for example getting dressed
or moving around. 'Long-term' means 12 months or more.
A disability can be different from an illness, even a long-term
or 'chronic' illness. A disability will reduce the individual's
ability to participate in normal daily activities but some people a
chronic illness may be able go about their lives as usual. However
it is important to remember that some illness can lead to
disability.
It is not necessary for a child to have a diagnosis to have a
disability. It can take time to confirm a diagnosis of disability
and some children may have conditions so rare that may never be
identified. The Children's Disability Nurse supports children with
disabilities by need rather than diagnosis.
Bristol Royal Hospital for Children does not have a Learning
Disability and Autistic Spectrum Disorder service. Children and
young people with learning disabilities and/or autistic spectrum
disorder are considered to have a disability and are supported by
the Paediatric Disability Clinical Specialist.
Who am I?
Martyn Wood: Paediatric Disability Clinical
Specialist
I came to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children in 2001 as a
Registered Adult Nurse keen to work with children and young people.
I worked on the
Paediatric Intensive Care Unit for ten years and completed a
conversion degree to become a Registered Children's Nurse in
2007.
In more than 20 years working in the hospital I gained a lot of
experience working with children and young people, as well as their
parents/carers, - including those with complex medical needs,
learning disabilities and autistic spectrum disorder. I have been
the Paediatric Disability Clinical Specialist since 2015.
The role of Paediatric Disability Clinical Specialist is to be a
point of contact for parent/carers and professionals outside the
hospital how have concerns that a child's disability may make
coming into our hospitals challenging. My role is to try to make
sure that there is equal access to healthcare for children with
disabilities and I do this by liaising with the clinical teams and
other services, like the
Play Department or
music therapy. I can also work with the ward or department the
child will be visiting to make recommendations for
reasonable adjustments that might make coming into hospital
easier for the child and family to manage.
Please be aware that there is only one Paediatric Disability
Clinical Specialist for Bristol Royal Hospital for Children and
that I only work 25 hours a week, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and
Friday.
Outside the hospital
Local offer
Since 2014 every local authority has been required to share
information about services in their area for children and young
people (from birth to age 25) who have special educational needs or
disability (SEND). This is known as the 'Local Offer'.
University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Trust provides a
local service for children and young people in Bristol and
Weston-Super-Mare. Bristol Royal Hospital for Children is also a
referral centre for specialist care for families across the South
West region. Every local authority has its own local offer and
these can be found here:
Links not working? Please let us know via ChildrensHospitalPassport@uhbw.nhs.uk
Parent and carer support groups
Links not working? Please let us know via ChildrensHospitalPassport@uhbw.nhs.uk
Contact the Paediatric Disability Clinical Specialist
My usual working times are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday,
9.30am to 3.45pm.
Phone: 0117 342 1571 (voicemail available)
Email: ChildrensHospitalPassport@uhbw.nhs.uk
Address:
Paediatric Disability Clinical
Specialist,
Bristol Royal Hospital for
Children,
Paul O'Gorman Building,
Upper Maudlin Street,
Bristol, BS2 8BJ
