Community paediatrics

Waiting times for Autism and ADHD

We are experiencing very high demand for Autism and ADHD diagnostic assessments, which is resulting in long waiting times and a high volume of calls and emails.

We understand how difficult this can be for families. View our paediatric waiting times.

If you have new information about your child or would like to discuss any concerns, please contact the service. We aim to respond to all emails within three working days.

If your child has received, or is due to receive, an Autism or ADHD assessment through a Right to Choose provider, please let us know. Children should only be on one waiting list for the same assessment. This helps us ensure appointments are offered to families who still require an assessment through KCHFT.

Contact us

The team covers the following areas in Kent:

North and west Kent

0300 123 4087
kcht.CommunityPaediatrics@nhs.net

South east Kent

Ashford, Canterbury, Deal, Dover, Folkestone, Hythe and Thanet.
03000 132250
kentchft.childhealthsek@nhs.net

Medway

0300 123 3444, select one-three-two when prompted
medch.childrenscommunity@nhs.net(opens in new tab)

For referral information and our referral form please see our How to refer section below.

Clinic locations Expand

• The Heathside Centre, Heath Road, Coxheath, Maidstone, Kent, ME17 4AHOn arrival at Heathside Centre, please report to Bevan House Reception who will advise the clinician that you have arrived. Car parking is free and available but please allow time, should car park be full.
• Children’s Resource Centre – located in Darent Valley hospital, Darenth Wood Road, Dartford, Kent, DA2 8DAPlease enter through the Children’s Resource Centre entrance, which is a separate entrance to the main hospital building. Parking is available and chargeable, but often very busy.
• Gravesham Community Hospital, Bath Street, Gravesend, Kent, DA11 0DGOn arrival at Gravesham Community Hospital, please report to reception who will let you know where to go for your appointment. Cash only parking is available but very limited. Please allow time to find alternative parking.
• Sevenoaks Hospital, Hospital Road, Sevenoaks, TN13 3PGOn arrival at Sevenoaks Hospital the Darent House building is on the right-hand side as you face the OPD building. There is parking at the Outpatient Building car park. Patients are to go directly to Darent House via the slope entrance/stairs (blue railings) on the side of the building. Once inside, walk down the corridor to the Waiting Area (all signposted) and then take a seat. Your clinician will come to collect you at your allotted time.
• Dartford East Health Centre, Pilgrims Way, Dartford, DA1 1QYOn arrival at Dartford East Health Centre, please wait in the waiting area and the clinician will come and collect you at your allotted time.  Please note there is limited parking available at this site.
• Woodlands Health Centre, Allington Road Paddock Wood Tonbridge TN12 6AXOn arrival at The Woodlands Health Centre, please go to the first floor waiting area. The clinician will come and collect you at your allotted time. Parking is available, this will need to be validated by entering your vehicle registration number at the machines located on the ground or first floor.
• The Rainbow Centre, Great Chart Road, A28 Bypass, Ashford TN23 4EROn arrival at Rainbow Centre, please report to reception and take a seat in the waiting area and the clinician will come and collect you at your allotted time.
• The Beacon, Park Farm Road, Folkestone CT19 5DN
• Children’s Assessment Unit, Buckland Hospital, Coombe Valley Road, Dover CT17 0HD
• Children’s Assessment Centre, Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Ethelbert Road, Canterbury CT1 3NG
• Green Banks MASH, Westfield Road, Garlinge, Margate.
• Snapdragons Centre,(opens in new tab) Cliffe Rd, Rochester ME2 3FF
• The Orchards,(opens in new tab) Attlee Way, Milton Regis, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 2HE

Kent community paediatrics appointment change/cancellation form (not Medway)(opens in new tab)Kent community paediatrics prescription request form (not Medway)(opens in new tab)

How we can help

The Educational Specialist Team

Paediatric timelines

Autism (ASD)

ADHD

Sleep

Eating

Behavioural workshop

What happens at your appointment?

Emotions and mental health

How we link to education

Transition to adult services

Paediatric questionnaires and forms

What do I do if I need immediate help? Expand

For any emergency situation please dial 999 or attend your local A&E department.

Call your local Community Paediatric Service

North and west Kent

0300 123 4087
kcht.CommunityPaediatrics@nhs.net

South East Kent

Ashford
01233 651922
ekh-tr.childhealthashford@nhs.net Folkestone
01303 854461
ekh-tr.childhealthshepway@nhs.net Dover
01304 222521
ekh-tr.childhealthbhd@nhs.net Canterbury
01227 866482
ekh-tr.childhealthcanterbury@nhs.net Thanet
01843 235145 / 01303 854461
ekh-tr.childhealththanet@nhs.net / ekh-tr.childhealthshepway@nhs.net

Please note that we only operate between the hours of 8am and 5pm Monday to Friday and cannot assist with emergency situations.

Contact your local Children’s and Young People Mental Health Service (NELFT)

If you are in crisis or require out of hours support please call SPA available 24 hours a day, on 0800 011 3474. They will listen and talk through the support available to you and your child.

You can visit NELFT website or phone the SPA as above.

The Children and Young People’s Mental Health Service (CYPMHS) provides emotional wellbeing and mental health advice and support for young people and their families across Kent.

This service is available to young people from birth to 18-years-old (up until their 19th birthday) and up until the age of 25 for young people with special educational needs or as part of a wider network of support for children and young people in the care of the local authority.

CYPMHS offers advice and support for stress, low mood and depression, anxiety, self-harm or difficult to manage behaviours and support for neurodevelopmental difficulties such as ADHD or ASD.

The way in which we offer support can differ for each person because every journey is unique. We are currently leading the way with our innovative digital support for young people and we have a number of resources available online. These are freely available and do not require a referral to our service.

For some young people, their emotional wellbeing may be having a significant impact on their day-to-day life. In these cases, we may offer a short period of face to face support either in one to one session or in a group.

If your child is ill

If your child is ill, please visit your local pharmacy first. They will tell you if your child needs to see a doctor (GP). If your child has signs of serious illness, contact your doctor directly, or take them straight to the A&E department of your local hospital.

KCC Early help, support for families

Please access Kent.gov.uk website or call 03000 41 41 41 for more information.

Early help offer wide ranging support for example:

• you are worried about your child’s behaviour
• you are struggling to cope
• you are worried about your family finances
• your child is struggling to cope with bereavement
• your child is being bullied
• your child refuses to go to school or college
• you or your child want to develop new friends and have new experiences
• you are having difficulties with family relationships.

Who we are

We are a team made up of Community Paediatricians, Clinical Psychologists, Specialist Nurses, an Occupational Therapist, an Associate Practitioner/ Social Prescriber, a Pharmacy Technician, Educational Specialists, Health Care Assistants, Clinical Support Workers, managers and administrators.

What we do

• Assessment and management of children with complex neurodisability for conditions such as cerebral palsy and genetic and chromosomal problems such as Down Syndrome.
• Developmental delay.
• Looked after children’s initial health assessments and adoption medical reports and assessments.
• Specialist diagnostic clinics for Autism (children under 11 years in north and west Kent and under eight years in south and east Kent) *see below.
• Assessment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (children between six to 11 years in north and west Kent) *see below.
• ADHD Medication (north and west Kent only under shared care practices with the GP for children aged six to 11 years starting medication and up to 17.5 years if commenced on medication prior to 11 years of age with KCHFT).
• Assessment and management of sleep difficulties in children who have diagnosed neurodevelopmental disorders.
• Assessment for Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD) (we request that all referrals go via Children’s Therapies in the first instance who will then refer into Community Paediatrics to complete assessments as required).

*North west Kent – children over 11 years requiring an assessment for Autism and/or ADHD are seen by Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust (KMMH). Please refer to the Kent and Medway Mental Health website.

*South east Kent – children over eight years requiring an assessment for Autism or children over six years of age requiring an assessment for ADHD are seen by Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust (KMMH). Please refer to the Kent and Medway Mental Health website.

*If your child has been accepted by the service and has since become older than the cut off ages due to waiting times they will continue to be seen by the service.

Referrals

All ADHD assessment referrals for east Kent children, previously managed by EKHUFT, are to continue to be sent to NELFT as per the existing process.

North and west Kent Expand

Please note that we can only accept referrals from professionals working with the family.

We are unable to accept referrals directly from families. If your child is in school or nursery, they are ideally placed to make the referral for you or this can be completed by a health professional.

We can only accept referrals for children who are registered with a GP in west Kent and Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley CCG or have an address within west Kent, Dartford, Gravesham or Swanley.

To check if the GP falls into our area, please check the ICB website before making a referral: Primary care networks NHS Kent and Medway (ICB website). If you are a parent or carer seeking support please speak to your child’s school/nursery or other professional working with your child.

South east Kent only Expand

Your child can be referred to Community Child Health by the Health visitor, the school, GP or by other professionals.

Referrals for preschool children

Referrals for preschool children must be made via the NHS Children’s Care Coordinating Team (NHSCCCT). All children < 4 years old with difficulties in 2 or more developmental areas should be referred into this service using our referral form.

• South east Kent – Children’s Care Coordination Team referral form (the form has been updated on 12 May 2026 with a new email address where to send the referral).

A referral to Portage can be made at the same time for those children not in nursery. If children are in nursery a nursery report should be included.

Children not yet in nursery but with concerns about possible ASD should also be referred via the NHSCCCT.

Children in nursery with concerns about possible ASD should be referred  with a nursery report, and any other assessment reports, for example, speech and language.

Children referred for a developmental assessment can be referred using the referral form; please include any assessments already completed and a clear reason for the request.

Where a child is due to start school in the September (and the concerns relate to social communication) the referral should go via the school age below if the referral is being sent after April.

The referrals should be sent to the relevant email address on the referral form.

Referrals for school age children

Referrals from school – please contact the service.

Children with concerns about possible ASD – please include a school report and any assessments already completed.

Transfers into our area – please send copies of all reports.

Medway Expand

The Indigo Pathway provides assessment for children aged two years and six months to under 11 years where there are concerns that they may be neurodivergent.

Assessments are available for:

• Autism (from two years and six months to under 11 years)
• ADHD (from six years to under 11 years)

Where a child needs support or intervention, please consider discussing with or referring to:

• Health Visiting(opens in new tab)
• School Nursing(opens in new tab)
• Therapy Services.

The pathway does not accept referrals for:

• children registered with a GP outside Medway
• children aged 11 years and over
• children where the only concern relates to mental health
• children who are not yet attending school and have not been referred to Speech and Language Therapy
• self-referrals from parents or carers.

Who can make a referral?

Referrals must be made by a professional working with the child and family.

We cannot accept referrals directly from parents or carers. If your child attends a school or nursery, staff can usually make the referral on your behalf. Referrals can also be made by a health professional, such as your GP.

Important information

Before referring for an autism or ADHD assessment, please check that the child has not already been referred through the NHS Right to Choose pathway. Children should not be on more than one waiting list for the same assessment.

Before submitting a referral

Please complete the relevant forms below and send them to medch.childrenscommunity@nhs.net(opens in new tab), together with the reference code from this email.

Autism assessment referral

Please complete the Indigo pathway referral form(opens in new tab)(opens in new tab) and submit the following relevant documents:

• Autism screening paperwork education (completed by the school or education setting)
• Autism screening paperwork home (completed by the parent or carer)
• Family developmental history (completed by the parent or carer).

ADHD assessment referral

Please submit:

• ADHD screening pack education (completed by the school or education setting)
• ADHD screening pack for home Medway (completed by the parent or carer)
• Family developmental history Medway (completed by the parent or carer).

Please note that referrals cannot be reviewed until all required documents have been received.

Complex needs referral form

The Medway complex needs team offers a single point of access for children who may have a known diagnosis, chromosomal, metabolic or genetic disorder, inborn or acquired disorders resulting in long term complex needs or disability. 

The Complex needs Medway referral form should be downloaded, completed and forwarded to medch.childrenscommunity@nhs.net. 

Contact us

Medway
0300 123 3444
medch.childrenscommunity@nhs.net(opens in new tab)

Referral information

How to make a referral Expand

• We can only accept referrals for children who are registered with a GP or reside in Kent. We accept referrals which meet our criteria for
  • West Kent including Maidstone, Tonbridge, Tunbridge wells and Sevenoaks
  • North Kent including Dartford, Gravesend and Swanley
  • South and east Kent including Thanet, Canterbury, Ashford, Dover and Folkestone.
  • To check if the GP falls into our area, please check the ICB website before making a referral – Primary care networks NHS Kent and Medway (icb.nhs.uk). If you are a parent or carer seeking support please speak to your child’s school/ nurse or other professional working with your child.
• If you are a parent or carer seeking support please speak to your child’s school/ nurse or other professional working with your child.
• In order to ensure your referral is accepted it is essential that the referral details clear evidence that you would like the child to assessed against one or more of the areas we provide services for. Please see the section on this website ‘Who we see’.
• As the referrer you will need to gather information prior to making the referral to ensure you have this evidence in place. Please follow the process as below.
• We can only accept online referrals made via this website (should there be any difficulties with completing an online referral it is advised that you contact the service either by telephone or email).

Referral process Expand

• As the professional working with the family you will need to co-ordinate the collection of the referral information and make the referral. Please ensure all supplementary information is completed and attached to the referral. It is essential that there is information from the family/ carers and the child’s school/ nursery. The referral cannot be processed without completed information.
• You will need to utilise the forms provided on this website to send out to the family/carers and school/ nursery. Please request that this information is sent back to you as the referrer.
• All referrals must include the following supplementary information, the forms for these are available in the referral:
• A ‘Background Information Sheet’ that the family/ carers complete to detail family and child medical, social and developmental history.
  • Background information sheet
• Nursery – school report (unless the child is not in education)
• For referrals where ADHD is considered you will need to provide the following questionnaires:
  • SNAP IV parent ADHD screening tool
  • SNAP-IV teacher ADHD screening tool
• For referrals regarding Autism Spectrum Condition and other social/ communication concerns the service will send screening forms after a referral is made.
• You may decide to add the following information to support a referral, but this is not essential and will not affect the referral being accepted:
  • Sleep diary and questionnaire

Our process for new referrals and follow-up appointments Expand

Referral

The professional referring the child will gain consent from the child’s parent/ carer in order to make a referral and gather the required information as laid out in ‘How to make a referral’ (information from the school/ nursery and parent/ carer is required for a referral to be accepted, they will then complete the online referral form.

Triage/ screening

Once all forms are completed the referral will screen to ensure the child has been referred to the most appropriate service, once this is confirmed the referral will be accepted. Should the referral be in regard to concerns with social communication difficulties/ ASD our team will send out specific screening questionnaires to the parent/ carer and the child’s nursery/school.

Outcome

The referral will be allocated to a paediatrician who will triage the referral to ensure the child is seen in the most appropriate clinic. The referrer will be notified of acceptance of the referral. If the referral does not meet the service criteria the referrer will be notified and advised of where to refer the child to.

Initial assessment

A detailed history will be taken and an assessment of current concerns. A plan of care will be agreed which may include further assessments and a recommended follow-up time will be given.

A medical report will be written and shared with the parents/carers and GP following the appointment. The service follows a clinical priority process when writing and distributing medical reports. This may result in some people waiting longer than others before their report is distributed.

Follow-up appointments

The timescale for follow-up appointments will depend on the individual needs of children; this timescale will be given as a recommendation in the medical report. We acknowledge that it is not always possible to see children in the recommended timescales and welcome families/carers/ professionals to contact the service should they need advice/support whilst they are waiting for an appointment or if they have new concerns for the child.

A medical report will be written and shared with the parents/carers and GP following the appointment. The service follows a clinical priority process when writing and distributing medical reports. This may result in some people waiting longer than others before their report is distributed.

Contacting the service for additional support

Should further support/ advice be required or you have new concerns for a child please contact the service on 0300 123 4087.

Our telephone operators will pass you query to the most appropriate person. Should it be a clinical query, our service has duty clinicians on daily who may be able to support you. Our administrative staff will be able to advise on appointments, prescriptions and reports.

Referral criteria Expand

We accept referrals from professionals working with the child and their family for:

• Developmental assessments
• Assessments for motor disorders, neurodevelopmental conditions, neurodisability, physical and sensory medical disorders.
• Assessment for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) for children under 11 years*.
• Assessment of Attention deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) for children between six to 11 years of age*.

*children and young people over 11 years are seen by NELFT child and young person’s neurodevelopmental and learning disability service. Please refer to the NELFT website NLDS.

• Children registered with a GP in West Kent or Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley CCGs and/or living within West Kent, Dartford, Gravesham or Swanley. Please check ICB website before making referral: Primary care networks NHS Kent and Medway (icb.nhs.uk).

We are unable to accept referrals for the following:

• Children registered with a GP outside west Kent or Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley CCGs and living outside our area. Please check ICB website before making referral: Primary care networks NHS Kent and Medway (icb.nhs.uk)
• Complex behavioural difficulties
• Self-harm
• Violent and aggressive behaviours
• Eating disorders
• Tourette’s Syndrome
• Mental Health problems (anxiety and depression)
• Counselling.

For all of the above please access the single point of access for NELFT via: NELFT website – Kent CYPMHS get in touch

• Dyslexia (this is an educational diagnosis)
• Sleep problems – please refer to a health visitor / school nurse/ GP (unless there is a neurodevelopment disorder concern).

The following conditions to be referred to acute paediatrics via the child’s GP

• Acute medical conditions (excluding acute/chronic psychiatric)
• Epilepsy
• Failure to thrive
• Growth problems
• Physical abuse (please contact the local hospitals’ children’s ward if a child protection medical is required)
• Constipation
• Daytime Enuresis.

If you have concerns for a child with feeding problems please follow this pathway: GP to assess and refer on as needed to paediatric dietician or acute paediatrician.

For children with feeding problems due to a disability please refer to multi-disciplinary feeding team this can also be completed via the child’s GP.

Families outside our area Expand

Families in East Kent should contact East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust for further information on autism assessment if your child is under eight years old, and North East London Foundation Trust if your child is over eight years old.

For all ADHD assessment information for families in East Kent, please contact North East London Foundation Trust.

Families in Swale should contact Medway Foundation Trust

Families in Medway should contact Medway Community Healthcare

All children over 11 years old across Kent are referred to North East London Foundation Trust for autism and ADHD assessments.

Community paediatrics referral form(opens in new tab)

Where do we work from?

The services are provided in a range of venues, depending on the child / young person’s needs as well as local arrangements, these may include:

• multi-agency children’s centres
• community clinics
• GP surgeries.

News for Community Paediatrics

Ambient AI trial

The Community Paediatrics team is trialling the use of AI in some appointments.

When you come to see us for an appointment, your clinician may be using a new computer-based tool to help them write their notes and reports or letters about your visit. The tool is called Tortus – it listens to you and the clinician during the appointment and generates a summary of the discussions. This could allow the clinician to spend less time taking notes or typing on the computer and more time focusing on you and your child. We also hope this will mean we can get our reports sent out sooner.

How does Tortus listen to what I am saying?

Tortus uses ‘ambient’ technology. This means it can turn words spoken by you, your child and the clinician, into written words (text). You might notice that the clinician wears a microphone, or that there is a microphone on a table or desk in the room. Tortus uses artificial intelligence (AI), which has been tested by clinicians. Tortus has been programmed to listen to all of the words spoken during the appointment. At the end of the appointment, Tortus summarises the important clinical content. The clinician will check any documents it produces for accuracy and completeness before approving them.

Is Tortus safe to use in my appointment?

We know that some people have concerns about the use of AI technology. KCHFT has carried out detailed and thorough safety checks to ensure that the technology is secure. Tortus will not keep your words. All data are kept in secure environments and are deleted after your notes are generated at the end of the consultation.

These notes will be copied into your child’s record by the clinician. Only clinician-approved documents will exist in the electronic patient record after the clinic.

Do I have to agree to Tortus being used in my appointment?

If you do not want Tortus to be used during the appointment, or if you change your mind during the session, please let your clinician know and they will stop the software.

Early support for neurodivergent children being rolled out

NHS Kent and Medway is working with Kent County Council and NHS providers to transform the neurodevelopmental support pathway for children and young people. Maidstone will be the first area in the county to launch the ‘This is Me’ program in December 2024, working towards a full rollout across Kent and Medway from Autumn 2025. When ‘This is Me’ has been introduced in a school, it will be the only method of referral. Children will get help from a new community team without needing a diagnosis. For some, this support will be enough without further referrals.

Find out more about ‘This is Me’ at the NHS Kent and Medway website.

National disruption of medication supplies to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

There is a national issue with the supply of some ADHD medications, including: Methylphenidate, Lisdexamfetamine, Guanfacine and Atomoxetine.

Read more on the national issue

FAQs for south east Kent families

Will my child’s care team change?

No. The same dedicated healthcare professionals who currently support your child will continue to do so.

Will there be any disruptions to my child’s appointments or treatment?

No. Services will continue as normal. Any future changes will be communicated to you and designed to improve care, not disrupt it.

Why is the service changing providers?

This change is part of a wider contract award aimed at improving consistency and quality of children’s services across Kent. By bringing services together to provide one standardised offer, we can better share expertise and resources, and deliver equitable, high-quality care for all.

Will the service still be available in my local area?

Yes. Services will continue to be delivered locally.

Do I need new contact details for the clinicians providing care to my child?

All existing phone numbers are being redirected, so you can continue to reach your child’s care team without any disruption.

New phone numbers have been set up and we encourage you to use these going forwards, as listed on our website.

Will waiting times change?

Waiting times will not be impacted by the transfer and there are no plans to amend them. Published wait times are available on our website and will continue to reflect the expected duration at the point of transfer.

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