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Paediatric Therapies
Comprehensive, personalised care for your child
- Self-referrals available
- Inpatient and outpatient services available
- Neurodiversity-affirming care
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Paediatric therapies at HCA UK
Why choose us?
At The Portland Hospital we understand that every child is unique, and so are the challenges they face. Whether your child is experiencing developmental, physical or sensory difficulties, our therapies team is here to provide them with specialist help and support when they need it most.
Our highly skilled therapists work as part of a multidisciplinary team with paediatric consultants and nurses from different specialties. This means we can coordinate treatment and care across different areas all under one roof, supporting children with a wide range of needs, including complex cases.
Our aim is to help your child grow in confidence and reach their full potential, and we work closely with family members to achieve this, providing you with advice and guidance throughout your time with us.
Fast access to specialists
Appointments booked within 72 hours
Convenience of care
All our paediatric therapy services under one roof
Multidisciplinary team expertise
We focus our wealth of experience on your child
Paediatric therapies
Expert care and support for your child
We offer fast access to our dedicated therapies team, who’ll work closely with your child to provide personalised treatment that supports their development and wellbeing.
We offer the following therapy services for children:
Paediatric occupational therapy
Paediatric occupational therapy (OT) helps children of all ages who are experiencing physical, sensory, or cognitive difficulties. OTs purpose is to help children engage in the activities of daily life, such as play, personal care skills and school skills. OT aims to promote and improve overall health, wellbeing, and participation at home, at school and the larger community.
Paediatric physiotherapy
Our paediatric physiotherapists treat babies, children, and adolescents and help support the development of motor skills and strength to support engagement.
Paediatric speech & language therapy
At HCA UK, our highly experienced speech and language therapists work with children of all ages, supporting them with communication skills as well as swallowing and feeding difficulties. Book your appointment today.
Paediatric dietetics
Expert advice for your child on diet and nutrition, including how diet can help with a wide range of conditions including diabetes, allergies and developmental issues.
Paediatric psychology
At the Portland Hospital we understand that time spent in a hospital environment can be new and overwhelming at times. Our psychology team is here to support you and your child during their inpatient hospital stay or their outpatient therapy journey.
Accessing private healthcare
Self-referral
You don't need to wait for a GP or consultant referral to get access to our therapy services, you can contact us directly.
Get in touch with our admin team at therapies@hcahealthcare.co.uk or call us on +44 (0) 207 390 6553 (option 2). We’ll send you a short self-referral form to complete and return. Once we receive it, we’ll guide you through the next steps and arrange an appointment.
Call +44 (0) 207 390 6553
The process
What to expect
We understand it can be overwhelming when your child needs specialist care. That’s why we aim to make every step of the journey clear, supportive, and centred on their needs. From the first appointment through to treatment and discharge, we’re here to guide you throughout your time with us.
If you have any questions not answered here, please get in touch with us. We’ll try to help in whatever way we can.
01
Initial consultation
Whether you’ve referred your child to us or have come through your GP or a paediatrician, the first step is an initial consultation with one of our therapists. Our team consists of physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and dietitians.
From the moment you arrive, we’ll do everything we can to help your child feel comfortable and safe. Your therapist will take the time to talk to you and your child, understand your concerns and goals. Your therapist will ask about your child’s medical history and developmental background to gain better understanding of your child’s needs.
Your therapist will then carry out an assessment of your child, tailored to their age and needs and or difficulties. The assessment process helps guide us to the correct and most impactful treatment plan, and is vital to identify any other therapy needs your child may have.
02
Personalised therapy plan
Once the assessment is complete, the assessment findings will be discussed with you. Together with you and your child we’ll develop an individualised therapy plan which may include a block of face-to-face therapy sessions, or a home program to support long term care and development. As we’re a multidisciplinary team, all under one roof, we can offer internal referrals to ensure holistic treatment for your child, if we feel they would benefit from additional therapy.
03
Therapy sessions
Therapy sessions may vary in frequency and duration depending on your child’s age and the reason for accessing therapy. We’ll always tailor our therapy sessions to suit your child, and we aim to make sessions as fun and as engaging as possible through play, as this is how children learn best.
04
Ongoing review
Our team will carefully monitor your child’s progress at their therapy sessions, keeping you updated at every step. This includes continually reviewing and adjusting the therapy plan, if required, to ensure your child gets the most out of each session. We’re here to support you both, providing ongoing advice and reassurance when you need it.
Location
When your child needs extra support, we’re here for them – and you – with our specialist paediatric facilities at The Portland Hospital.
The Portland Hospital
205-209 Great Portland Street W1W 5AH London
Take a tour of The Portland Hospital
Take a whistle-stop tour of The Portland Hospital with Abigail and Hannah as they embark on a treasure hunt that sees them visit the different departments to see exactly what we offer.
Paediatric therapies FAQs
At The Portland Hospital therapies department, we support children of all ages with developmental, physical, sensory and communication needs. Your child will have been referred for one or more of the following services to support their development:
- Speech and language therapy for children
- Paediatric physiotherapy
- Paediatric occupational therapy
- Paediatric psychology
- Paediatric dietetics
Our therapy team is here to support you as well as your child, providing advice, reassurance and support during your child’s therapy journey.
Our skilled therapists understand that having a child in hospital or going through the therapy process can be a scary time. We’re available to guide you through every step of the therapy process.
At the Portland Hospital our therapists work with children of all ages, from newborn babies in the Neonatal Unit, through to 18-year-old adolescents.
Yes, you can. You don’t need to wait for a GP or consultant referral to access our therapy services – parents can contact us directly.
Simply get in touch with our admin team at therapies@hcahealthcare.co.uk or call +44 (0) 207 390 6553 (option 2). We’ll send you a short self-referral form to complete and return, and once we receive it, we’ll talk to you about the next steps and arrange an appointment.
If you already have a referral letter from your NHS GP, you’re welcome to send this to us instead.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to get in touch. Our team is here to make the process as simple and supportive as possible, so you can focus on getting your child the care they need.
To get the most out of your initial consultation, it’s useful if you write down as much as possible about your child, including what they find challenging, as well as any questions and concerns you may have before the appointment.
Depending on their condition, it may also be helpful to list any strategies you’ve already tried and what does or doesn’t help. This will help your therapist get a good understanding of your child’s unique needs.
For young children, we recommend that you bring along their favourite toy, a drink of water and a snack, so they can have a small break as the assessments can sometimes be a little longer.
Our team will always try to fit you in as quickly as possible, at a time and date that suits you.
If you don’t want to wait for a GP or consultant referral to get access to our therapy services, you can contact us directly.
Get in touch with our admin team at therapies@hcahealthcare.co.uk or call us on +44 (0)207 390 6553 (option 2). We’ll send you a short self-referral form to complete and return. Once we receive it, we’ll talk to you about what to expect and arrange an appointment.
We encourage parents to be actively involved in all therapy sessions to learn and engage with your child, as therapy inputs and strategies often need to be carried over in the home too. In addition to this, many children find it comforting having a parent in the room.
If, for whatever reason, you’re asked to leave the session, trust it will be done with the best interests of your child – for example when your child needs to complete a standardised test or assessment.
Similarly, if your child is an inpatient at The Portland Hospital, we encourage you join in all therapy sessions as much as you’d like. We can also provide you with a bed for one parent.
Yes, The Portland Hospital is a private hospital in London that’s dedicated to treating women and children. Our paediatric services at The Portland Hospital include:
Yes, you can get here by underground, bus or taxi and ride services. Please see further details below.
The nearest underground stations are:
Several bus routes stop close to the hospital. The most convenient routes include: 18, 27, 30, 88, 205, 453 and C2.
These stop near Great Portland Street, Harley Street and Portland Place, all of which are within a short walking distance of the hospital.
By taxi or ride services
Taxis and ride-sharing services like Uber or Bolt can drop you off directly outside The Portland Hospital main entrance at 205-209 Great Portland Street, W1W 5AH.
The nearest underground stations are:
- Great Portland Street Station (Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan Lines) - approx. 5 minutes’ walk
- Regent’s Park Station (Bakerloo Line) – approx. 6 minutes’ walk
- Oxford Circus Station (Central, Victoria and Bakerloo lines) - around 10 minutes' walk
Several bus routes stop close to the hospital. The most convenient routes include: 18, 27, 30, 88, 205, 453 and C2.
These stop near Great Portland Street, Harley Street and Portland Place, all of which are within a short walking distance of the hospital.
By taxi or ride services
Taxis and ride-sharing services like Uber or Bolt can drop you off directly outside The Portland Hospital main entrance at 205-209 Great Portland Street, W1W 5AH.
- Pick-up and drop-off options: Visitors can pick up and drop off patients at the main entrance. No parking is allowed as the driveway is for emergency vehicle access.
- Local parking: There’s no on-site parking and street parking isn’t permitted on single yellow lines between Monday and Saturday, from 8.30am to 6.30pm. However, national and private car parks are available nearby. Please contact the admissions team if you need help to find a local car park near to the hospital.
- Disabled parking: Westminster Council operates a small number of disabled parking bays near the hospital, available to Blue Badge holders for up to four hours. The nearest one is on the corner of Bolsover Street, next to Tesco Express.
At The Portland Hospital, we have open visiting. However, we recommend that visitors leave by 10pm. If your child is staying overnight, this gives both parents and child the chance to settle for the night and get some rest.
We can provide you with a bed for one parent should you wish to stay overnight with your child.
“Following our positive experience at The Portland, I have recommended it countless times and couldn’t be happier with the results...”
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