Medical Conditions

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Please note, we are in the process of adding more content to this page.

Overview

There is sometimes an overlap between children and young people having Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), and additional medical conditions.

This page aims to highlight advice and support, via signposting and related documents, that are relevant to medical support in East Sussex.

While we aim to provide as much information as possible, there may be some conditions that aren't covered in thorough detail, or there may not be specific local support available. The NHS website has pages that list all conditions, with information and advice on how to get extra support:

Visit the NHS Health A to Z web page

Bladder and Bowel

Constipation, soiling and daytime and night time wetting are quite common during the first few years of a child's life. However, there may be ways in which these can be improved.

The NHS East Sussex Children website outlines information, advice and support that cover all of these topics.

You can visit the NHS East Sussex Children website to learn more.

Bladder & Bowel UK offers advice and information on all bladder and bowel issues in children and young people including those with additional needs.

Find out more by visiting the Bladder & Bowel UK site.

NHS East Sussex Healthcare provide a service that aims to promote healthy bladder and bowels amongst children and young people. It aims to ensure every opportunity is taken to support a child to achieve their continence potentials, resulting in greater independence and dignity.

Visit the NHS website to find out more.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a condition that causes a person's blood sugar level to become too high.

There are 2 main types of diabetes:

type 1 diabetes - a lifelong condition where the body's immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin
type 2 diabetes – where the body does not produce enough insulin, or the body's cells do not react to insulin properly

Please visit the NHS East Sussex Children website to learn more and to find out what support is available.

Immunisations

Immunisation is a way of protecting people against serious diseases. Once we've been immunised, our bodies are better able to fight diseases if we come into contact with them.

Please visit the NHS East Sussex Children website to learn more.

Tracheostomy

A tracheostomy is an opening created at the front of the neck, so a tube can be inserted into the windpipe (trachea) to help you breathe.

If necessary, the tube can be connected to an oxygen supply and a breathing machine called a ventilator.

The tube can also be used to remove any fluid that's built up in the throat and windpipe.

There is a Local Offer by NHS Sussex, for children and young people who have tracheostomies. The service provides training, competency assessment and ongoing support to nursery and education settings who will be supporting children with tracheostomies (statutory provision) who are on their caseload, either via universal services, or where this is not available, separately commissioned services.

The service provides for:

Children or young people with tracheostomies who live in East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton and Hove who are accessing education in a formal setting.
Pre-school children who are entitled to free childcare as per current guidelines All school age children accessing education (mainstream, independent, special schools) from reception year onwards, 38 weeks per year.

NHS have created two PDF documents that outline the support they offer. To find out more:

Glossary of East Sussex SEND Terms

Some of the terms used on this website are explained on our page, Glossary of East Sussex SEND Terms.