Medical Conditions
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 related medical conditions.
This page aims to highlight advice and support related to medical support in East Sussex. This is via signposting and related documents.
We aim to provide as much information as possible. There may be some conditions that aren't covered in thorough detail. The NHS website has pages that list all conditions. These pages provide information and advice on how to get extra support:
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 to improve these issues.
The NHS East Sussex Children website outlines information, advice and support that cover all of these topics.
Bladder & Bowel UK offers advice and information on all bladder and bowel issues. This includes all children and young people and those with additional needs.
Find out more by visiting their website:
The NHS 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. This will result in greater independence and dignity. You can find out more by visiting the NHS website:
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. This is a lifelong condition where the body's immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin
- Type 2 diabetes. This is where the body does not produce enough insulin, or the body's cells do not react to insulin in the correct way
The NHS East Sussex Children site provides more information:
Diabetes UK
Diabetes UK focuses on:
- Curing and preventing diabetes
- Helping people to live well and longer with the condition
They have a website that offers support and information:
DigiBete
DigiBete is a video platform and app. It aims to help children, young people and families to manage Type 1 Diabetes:
JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation)
JDRF offer support and information for Type 1 Diabetes:
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.
The NHS East Sussex Children site provides more information:
Sleep
Issues with sleep can be quite common with children. Sometimes families will be able to manage these issues, and in time some problems may improve. However, sometimes sleep issues can worsen if they are not checked.
Examples of common sleep issues includes:
- Struggling to fall asleep
- Waking up several times during the night
- Being unable to get the recommended amount of sleep
Less common sleeping disorders can include:
- Insomnia, also known as sleeplessness. This can cause someone to struggle falling asleep, or to not sleep for as long as desired.
- Narcolepsy. This can cause lots of daytime sleepiness and falling asleep without warning.
- Sleep apnea. This causes breathing to stop and start while you’re asleep. This can cause further issues if it goes untreated.
- Restless legs syndrome (RLS), also known as Willis–Ekbom disease. This causes people an overwhelming urge to move their legs. This often occurs during the evening or at night when the body is most relaxed.
Sleep problems are more common for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
There are several local and national services that aim to help with these issues. We will outline some of these, below.
The NHS can offer support if your child has difficulty sleeping.
You can find out more by visiting the NHS East Sussex Children website:
There are Family Hubs throughout East Sussex. These hubs allow for parents to share concerns and advice on lots of topics, including sleep. You can find out more by visiting the Family Hubs website:
The main NHS website provides lots of information on how to support children and young people with sleep:
- Sleep and young children | NHS
- How to care for a disabled child - Social care and support guide | NHS
For further information and support in regard to sleep, you can also visit:
- Practical Advice to Support You & Your Child | My Family Our Needs
- National Sleep Helpline | The Sleep Charity
- Helping you and your child sleep | Contact
Tracheostomy
A tracheostomy is an opening created at the front of the neck. This is so a tube can be inserted into the windpipe (trachea) to help you breathe.
If necessary, a tube can connect to an oxygen supply and a breathing machine called a ventilator.
The tube can also 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.
The support is for education settings who will be supporting children with tracheostomies. It is also for those on their caseload. This is either via universal services, or where this is not available, separately commissioned services.
The service provides for:
- Children or young people with tracheostomies who are accessing education in a formal setting. This includes children and young people who live in East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton & Hove.
- Pre-school children entitled to free childcare as per current guidelines.
- All school age children accessing education from reception year onwards, 38 weeks per year. This includes mainstream, independent and special school settings.
NHS have created two PDF documents that outline the support they offer:
- View the Supporting Access to Education for Children Living with Tracheostomies (May 2023) PDF
- View the Tracheostomy Support to Schools and Nurseries (May 2023) PDF
Additional Help and Support
Amaze SENDIASS
Amaze SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Service) are a local charity. They offer free, independent, and impartial advice for all matters relating to SEND. Contact Amaze SENDIASS by:
- Phone - 01273 772 289
- Email - sendiass@amazesussex.org.uk
Visit the Amaze SENDIASS web page.
East Sussex Local Offer directory of services
You can visit our SEND-specific online directory, hosted on East Sussex 1Space. The directory lists many different services both throughout the county and online. Services cover many topics, including:
- Advice, Guidance and Support Groups
- Activities and Events
- Mental Health and Wellbeing Support
Visit the East Sussex Local Offer directory.
NHS - Health A to Z
The East Sussex Local Offer aims to provide as much information as possible. There may be some conditions that aren't covered in thorough detail. The NHS website has pages that list all conditions. These pages provide information and advice on how to get extra support:
Visit the NHS Health A to Z web page.
Glossary of East Sussex SEND Terms
We explain some of the terms used on this website on our page, Glossary of East Sussex SEND Terms.