This page explains what you and your child can expect at our complex feeding clinic.
Please allow up to 90 minutes for a first appointment and up to 45 minutes for a follow-up appointment.
Changing or cancelling your appointment
If you need to change or cancel your child's appointment for any reason, please phone 020 7188 4000.
Please tell us as soon as possible so we can offer the appointment to another patient.
Before your appointment
During the appointment, we may want to watch your child eating or drinking.
Please bring to the appointment:
- a completed food diary and the questionnaires, included with your appointment letter
- your child's red book (personal child health record) if your child is pre-school age
- a short video of your child eating
- a typical snack for your child to eat
- a list of any medicines or dietary supplements your child is taking
- any reports from previous feeding or developmental assessments as these may help us to build a picture of how your child's eating and drinking is changing over time
- details of any professionals involved in your child's care
During your appointment
We'll ask you questions about your child's eating. The doctor may examine your child, for example by listening to their chest or feeling their tummy.
We may play or speak directly to your child with you in the room, or speak to them in a separate room if we think this will be helpful.
We may watch your child eat the food you brought.
During the appointment, we'll take a short break to discuss how we can help you.
We'll give you a written summary of our recommendations before you leave.
After your appointment
After the appointment, we'll send you a letter with our observations, conclusions and advice.
We'll also send this letter to the doctor who referred your child to us, your child's GP and any community therapists and nurses who are involved with your child's care.
The letter will have a contact number you can call if you have any questions.
We'll contact you after your appointment to help you to follow our advice. We'll also speak to your local team to share our recommendations.