In addition to NHS paediatric and mental health services, families in London Borough of Hackney can access early help, parenting support and community services through Hackney Council’s Children and Family Hubs and wider Children & Families services.

These services provide integrated support for families from pregnancy through age 19 (or up to 25 for young people with SEND) and work alongside NHS primary care, health visiting, education and social care services.

Paediatric Urgent Cases

For urgent cases (to be seen within 24/48 hours) telephone the Consultant in the GP Rapid Referral Clinic 9am-5pm

t: 07795 390715

You will need to send your referral via e-RS

If the patient does not fall within this criteria then they must refer via e-RS to either routine/urgent General Paediatrics whereby the referral will be triaged and if deemed urgent they will request for the appointment to be brought forward accordingly

Quick links for clinicians

Hackney Council – Children and Families services

Family support services (Early Help)

Hackney Children and Family Hubs information

Parent Support Hubs

Ann Tayler Children & Family Hub

Daubeney Children & Family Hub

Linden Children & Family Hub

Woodberry Down Children & Family Hub

Hackney Children and Family Hubs

Hackney Council has introduced a borough-wide Children and Family Hub model, which brings together services supporting children, young people and families.

The hubs provide a single point of access for advice, support and activities, linking health, education and family services.

Services available through hubs include:

• Parenting advice and evidence-based parenting programmes
• Infant feeding and breastfeeding support
• Stay-and-play and early years development sessions
• Child development and speech and language support
• Mental health and emotional wellbeing advice
• SEND advice and access to the Hackney Local Offer
• Housing, employment and financial advice
• Family wellbeing and relationship support

Many services are delivered directly in hubs, while others are provided through children’s centres, schools, health centres and community organisations across Hackney.

Children and Family Hub locations

The four main Children and Family Hubs in Hackney are:

Ann Tayler Children & Family Hub
1–13 Triangle Road, London E8 3RP

Daubeney Children & Family Hub

Linden Children & Family Hub
86–92 Rectory Road, London N16 7SH

Woodberry Down Children & Family Hub

Each hub offers free activities, parenting support and family advice services for families with children and young people.

GP signposting pathway

GPs can signpost families to appropriate support depending on the presenting issue.

Early help / family support

For families needing parenting advice, social support or early intervention services.

Refer or signpost to:
Hackney Family Support services

Families can also access support directly through Children and Family Hubs.

Child development or early years concerns

For concerns about early childhood development, parenting support or behavioural issues.

Signpost to:
Hackney Children and Family Hub

Mental health concerns

For emotional or behavioural difficulties requiring specialist assessment.

Refer to:
City and Hackney Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)

Safeguarding concerns

If there are concerns regarding child protection or significant risk.

Contact:
Hackney Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH)

Ideas for clear guidance around Paediatric Referral for Urgent Children

1. How urgent paediatric referrals are made

• Telephone the Acute Paediatrics advice/referral line: 07795 390715
• Hours: Monday–Friday 09:00–17:00
• You discuss the case with the paediatric consultant or registrar, who decides the appropriate pathway. (GP Website)

Possible outcomes after discussion:

• Rapid referral clinic appointment (usually within 24–48 h)
• Direct admission to the paediatric team / Children’s Emergency Assessment
• Advice and management in primary care
• Referral to A&E if acutely unwell. (hackneylocaloffer.co.uk)

Urgent referrals should not be sent via e-RS; routine or non-urgent referrals go through e-RS and are triaged by a consultant. (GP Website)

2. Typical clinical criteria for an urgent paediatric referral

(Used locally to decide whether to call the hotline rather than routine referral.)

A. Acute but stable illness needing paediatric review

Examples:

• Persistent fever or systemic illness not improving
• Moderate dehydration / feeding concerns
• Prolonged vomiting or diarrhoea
• Suspected pneumonia not needing immediate ED
• Suspected UTI in infants
• New wheeze/asthma exacerbation requiring specialist review

B. Significant diagnostic uncertainty

Where a child may deteriorate or requires paediatric assessment:

• Possible sepsis but currently stable
• Unexplained rash with systemic symptoms
• Persistent tachycardia / tachypnoea
• Unclear abdominal pain
• Failure to thrive / weight loss with acute concern

C. Conditions needing rapid outpatient paediatric assessment

Examples commonly sent to the rapid referral clinic:

• First seizure or collapse
• Prolonged jaundice
• Persistent headaches or neurological symptoms
• Possible inflammatory conditions
• New murmurs / cardiac concerns
• Unresolved infections

D. Safeguarding or complex concerns

• Possible non-accidental injury

Safeguarding concerns needing paediatric review

3. Cases that should NOT use the urgent GP hotline

These should instead go to A&E or emergency admission:

• Severely unwell child
• Respiratory distress
• Sepsis / meningitis concern
• Altered consciousness
• Status epilepticus
• Severe dehydration

In those situations the child should go directly to the Children’s Emergency Assessment area in A&E.

Practical rule used locally:

• Stable but needs paediatric review within 24–48 h → call the acute paediatric line.
• Acutely unwell / unstable → send to A&E.
• Non-urgent → e-RS routine referral.