Paediatric Feeding Team
The Fiona Stanley Hospital Paediatric Feeding Team provides individualised assessment and feeding interventions for children aged under eight years who live in the hospital’s catchment area and find feeding and eating difficult (paediatric feeding disorder).
Characteristics of this disorder include being unable to eat and drink enough to stay hydrated or have the energy to play and grow. It can be caused by one or a combination of factors, including:
- medical
- nutritional
- feeding skills
- psychological factors.
Our services
The initial outpatient appointment includes a comprehensive medical history and physical examination. Our medical and allied health team then assess the child’s feeding difficulties and family mealtimes to form an individualised therapy plan appropriate for the child’s needs and goals.
Support provided can include:
- appointments focused on assessments, feeding reviews, coaching sessions, parent only sessions, therapy blocks, periods of monitoring and onward referrals
- transition to community agencies when appropriate
- focusing on the child’s strengths and working with the child and their family as a unit to develop and support required changes in routine or environment
- continuing to talk about goals and challenges as therapy progresses with a focus on discharge or transition to a community service.
Therapy goals may require changes to routine at home, ongoing practise at home or engagement with other services during or after the support from the team.
Our team
The team consists of a:
- clinical psychologist
- dietitian
- occupational Therapist
- paediatrician
- social worker
- speech pathologist.
How to access this service
Patients can be referred to this service via a referral from their GP or via internal referrals if the child is a Fiona Stanley Hospital inpatient.
Location
Your appointment letter will advise if your appointment will be held in:
- Allied Health 2 Outpatient Clinic
- Outpatient Clinic 6.
View the Fiona Stanley Hospital map (PDF 1MB).
Opening hours
Our service currently runs on a Tuesday and Wednesday, with:
- allied health appointments offered either Tuesday or Wednesday
- medical appointments on Wednesday afternoons only.
We understand this can be challenging to fit within a family’s schedule and appreciate your efforts to attend scheduled appointments.
Contact us
Our service only operates two days per week, and we endeavour to respond to queries within a week.
Urgent queries are best directed to your general practitioner (GP) and/or an emergency department.
Email the Paediatric Feeding Team
More information
Read about ourpaediatric services.