The health and care needs of under-5s and their families report
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If you require this report in a different format, please contact us by emailing info@healthwatchkingston.org.uk
Background
This Healthwatch Kingston community engagement report captures the lived experiences of parents, carers, and other adults involved in the care of children aged 0-5 living in Kingston upon Thames and neighbouring areas. Our survey received 100 complete responses and 31 partial submissions. Insights were gathered on health and care service use, family needs, emotional and physical wellbeing, and areas for health and care system improvement.
This engagement provides a detailed picture of the challenges faced by families with young children. While some services – especially early years centres, GPs, and certain health visitors – were praised, many families experience fragmented care, long waits, and inadequate support when dealing with complex needs or neurodiverse children.
Healthwatch Kingston Early Years Recommendations:
- Integrated care coordination for families managing multiple health and care pathways.
- Prioritise early years family mental health – perinatal, postnatal, and childhood trauma support (such as ensure trauma-informed care for birth and postnatal health – listen to mothers).
- Improve wait times for speech and language therapy, CAMHS, SEND assessment, and autism or ADHD diagnosis.
- Ensure inclusive, culturally sensitive services, especially around dietary, faith, and parenting norms.
- Expand accessible children’s centre provision, especially in ‘deprived areas’ (such as Norbiton, Chessington and Hook and Tolworth).
- Ensure continuity of care where possible to ease emotional burden on families.
- Invest in staff training about neurodiversity, disabilities, and long-term conditions.
- Include parents in decisions about the care of their child to ensure they don’t feel dismissed.
- Strengthen communication systems between services (such as, one point of contact per family).
Looking for trusted health advice for parents and families?
There's a lot of parenting advice out there, and it can be confusing to know where to start, especially when it comes to the health of your child. To support you and your family we have created an advice and information page to point you in the right direction.
Find out where you can go for:
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Tips, advice and guides from pregnancy to parenthood
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Online courses tailored to children’s developments stages for you to learn in your own time in a safe, private space
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Information about protecting children from serious illnesses
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Local services for children and young people
