Specialist services (tertiary care)
1 min read
This advice applies across the UK.
If your child has a very complex or very rare condition, they might be referred onto what are called specialised services.
What is specialist care?
Large hospitals, called regional ‘centres of excellence’, provide specialised services. Examples include Great Ormond Street and the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.
These centres specialise in conditions and treatments like cystic fibrosis, congenital heart disorders, complex neurological disorders, metabolic disorders, and some rare conditions.
Only a few centres provide specialised services. This means families often must travel long distances to access them.
Your child might receive all their treatment at the regional hospital. Alternatively, your local hospital might provide some of the care with advice from the specialised centre. This is sometimes called “shared care”. Attending the local hospital for routine check-ups and treatments can be much less disruptive to family life.
Teams from specialised services sometimes run clinics at the local hospital so families don’t have to travel so far. Whether this happens in a given area depends on equipment requirements and the number of children who need the specialised services.
Related information
Help with health costs
It is possible to qualify for help with NHS costs such as prescriptions, vouchers for glasses, dental treatment and reasonable travel costs…
Read more
Introduction to health services
Find out how healthcare is structured in the four UK nations, how to access services, and where to find out more about…
Read more
Getting a diagnosis
Once you realise your child may have a learning difficulty or health problem, getting a diagnosis might be the next step.
Read more