Be Healthy
School Medical Support
The Clinical team has considerable experience in the management of epilepsy, learning disability and other neurological disorders. The aim of the team is to work with families and colleagues in education and care to help children with epilepsy and other neurological impairments reach their maximum potential by ensuring high standards of medical care and diagnosis.
The David Lewis Centre offers a modern service and has very close links with the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital. We are part of the managed clinical network for epilepsy. Audit, research and regular post-graduate meetings take place at the Centre.
The day to day medical care is provided by a team of two children’s doctors, three children’s nurses and a health care assistant. The medical team manage general medical problems as well as managing children’s epilepsy. Our Paediatric Medical Director is Dr Tim Martland who is a Consultant Paediatric Neurologist at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital. He manages complex epilepsy in children from the North West of England and is involved in the managed clinical network for epilepsy. Dr Michael Clarke is a Consultant Paediatric Neurologist at Leeds, although formerly he worked at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital. He has wide experience in learning disability, epilepsy and physical disabilities. Dr Dan Hindley is a Consultant Paediatrician in Bolton with a special interest in learning disability and epilepsy. Dr Hilary Lloyd who is a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital visits the Centre weekly. She is well known for her interest in learning disability and autism in the context of child psychiatry.
Other services include:
EEG Services
The David Lewis Centre has an on-site EEG Department which can carry out emergency EEGs, standard EEGs and long term Ambulatory EEGs.
Dental Services
Many of the children have never received adequate dental care before their arrival. This has often been due to their autism and difficulties with visiting the dentist. The dedicated dentist and dental nurse work very hard to care for the children’s teeth and this has been proven by a recent study at the Centre. The decayed, missing and filled teeth index in Manchester is 56%. This means that half the Manchester children have decayed, missing or filled teeth the same index for the David Lewis children is 20%.
Pharmacy
We have an on-site Pharmacy and supply all the childrens' medication whilst they are here and also whilst on home leave. This provision is currently under review.
Physiotherapy
We have an up-to-date Physiotherapy Department with a hydrotherapy pool. All the children are assessed by the Physiotherapist and treatment is given, as required.
Speech & Language Therapy
The School Speech & Language Therapist has responsibility for assessing and monitoring the communication needs of all the children. Individual or group therapy is offered, where appropriate. There is a support team of three therapy assistants. The focus is on giving all children an effective means of communication.
Occupational Therapy
The Occupational Therapist's role is to maximise each child's functional independence by providing:
- Appropriate assessment.
- Training and support for pupils, carers and parents.
- Adaptation to the environment using equipment and compensatory techniques.
- Purposeful activity as treatment.
Dietetics
A Paediatric Dietician visits the Centre once a fortnight.
Optometry
A Community Optometrist with a special interest in children with learning disabilities visits the school weekly to test the children's vision. All children are seen annually for a review and more often if required.
Psychology
Staff are assisted in managing the behaviour of young people by Behavioural Support Advisors (part of the Centre’s Psychological Services). Presently there are two advisors who from the earliest stages of referral to the David Lewis School, through to transition into adult life, work to ensure consistency of behaviour management by all staff. The Behavioural Support Advisors also have input into a wide range of staff training including acting as BILD accredited trainers in physical interventions. Supervision is carried out by a Consultant Paediatric Neuropsychologist who also provides psychology input and advice to the school.
Audiology
A Paediatric Audiologist visit the Centre annually.
Genetics
A Consultant Clinical Geneticist, Dr Bronwyn Kerr comes to the Centre twice a year to see children who require a genetics opinion. In the interim genetic testing (where appropriate) can be arranged.
Podiatry
A Community Podiatrist (Chiropodist) carries out regular sessions at the Centre.
Exercise and Obesity
Exercise is an important part of the curriculum at the school. First and foremost for the children, it is fun. Secondly, although the children are not aware of it, it benefits their health. Walking, cycling, swimming, trampolining etc. are activities enjoyed by almost all of the pupils.
Two experienced and qualified PE teachers follow the national curriculum guidelines in addition to incorporating extra activities which have been specially devised by the team. All children participate in PE activities. The school uses the “Equals” curriculum and the “Equals” scheme of work for children with severe learning difficulties which was co-written by a member of the team and will be published nationally in the near future. Activities covered include athletics, games, gymnastics, outdoor education, swimming, dance and trampolining.
A retrospective audit at the Centre has shown that whilst nationally 25% of schoolchildren are overweight or obese only 15% of the children at the school were overweight or obese. This has been achieved by team working, education and particularly PE staff, care staff and the input of the Paediatric Dietician. Another gain from regular exercise, particularly in the outdoors, is that the children have been shown to have normal levels of vitamin D. This is despite the fact that they have risk factors such as anticonvulsants, immobility and sometimes poor dietary intake. Vitamin D is produced in the body by the effect of the sun on the skin and, therefore, outdoor exercise will help to ensure healthy bones in the children.
Vaccination
All children are offered vaccinations in accordance with the national recommendations. Children at around the age of 15 will be offered a school leaving dose of diphtheria, tetanus and polio. All children will also be offered the chance to receive a Hepatitis B vaccination. Hepatitis B is a viral infection of the liver which is much more common in those living in residential accommodation for people with learning disabilities. The vaccine (a course of 3) is always given with parental consent and we have achieved over 90% uptake of this vaccine in the children. If vaccines have been missed for any reason, for example MMR, Meningitis C these can be given as catch up vaccines whilst the child is at school.
All children are offered flu vaccinations subject to parental consent. It should be noted that the children are at higher risk of flu because they are living in a residential setting.
Sexual Health is initially dealt with as part of PSE in the school curriculum. Pupils also have the chance for individual sessions with the school PSE coordinator where individual issues can be addressed or discussed.
Support for Parents
Parents are welcome to telephone the children’s nursing team or doctors if they have any matters of concern. There is regular and frequent telephone and written contact with the house staff and school staff (some times daily). Parents visit freely and take their children home for weekends or out for the day. Senior staff also make themselves available to parents on days when many of the children return from holidays (usually the Sunday before term starts). Parents are encouraged to drop in, have a coffee and talk with each other or staff.
There are three parental governors on the governing body of the school. One of these has written and ‘Handbook for Parents’, which aims to tell parents the things they need to know about having a child here, which they may not be able to get from our written material or prospectus.
