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Department of Paediatric Rehabilitation
Queensland Cerebral Palsy Health Service
CP Health works to enhance services to children and young people with cerebral palsy by providing five tertiary health programs under a state-wide model. These programs reduce the risk of predictable, preventable complications of cerebral palsy; improve access to new and existing treatments; and optimise clinical management to improve quality of life and health outcomes.
CP Health is achieving this by working collaboratively with families and with many organisations and professionals across the state who also provide services for children with cerebral palsy.
CP Health's statewide role
CP Health, while based at the Royal Children's Hospital (RCH), offers regional outreach services through multidisciplinary clinics held jointly with local services in Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Gold Coast and Toowoomba. Telemedicine consultations are also available.
The service has formed partnerships and strengthened existing services by funding a full-time physiotherapy position and part-time occupational therapy position at the Mater Children's Hospital (MCH) and part-time physiotherapy positions in the regional centres of Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton and the Gold Coast. These therapists, with those at RCH, are able to offer assessment and rehabilitation for those children receiving one of the CP Health Programs. For children in other regions receiving CP Health programs, we have been able to enhance post-intervention rehabilitation closer to home, by working with therapists in their local area or by funding rehabilitation through the Brokerage system with private practitioners or organisations such as the Cerebral Palsy League of Queensland.
CP Health's clinical programs
The Hip Surveillance and Management Program is a comprehensive program to monitor for and manage hip displacement in children with cerebral palsy to prevent hip dislocation. All children with cerebral palsy should be on hip surveillance. The program also can be accessed by families and health professionals in rural and regional areas through medical referral to our outreach clinics. The programs link children where required, into orthopaedic services at both the MCH and RCH. CP Health provides support and follow-up for children undergoing surgical interventions to manage hip displacement.
The Botulinum Toxin Program offers assessment, intervention using Botulinum Toxin Type A (BTX-A) and post-injection rehabilitation for children with spasticity. This program is offered at RCH, MCH and in the regional areas of Cairns, Townsville, Mackay and Rockhampton. Children can be assessed for this intervention at all outreach clinics across the state. Both upper limb and lower limb BTX-A interventions and rehabilitation are available.
Single Event Multilevel Orthopaedic Surgery (SEMLS) is a specialised orthopaedic surgical intervention which can involve simultaneous bony surgery and muscle lengthening and transfers to correct bony deformity and muscle shortening in the lower limbs of ambulatory children. This intervention requires significant pre and post-surgical assessment as well as an intensive and lengthy post-operative rehabilitation program. The Queensland Children's Gait Laboratory at RCH plays an integral role through the provision of objective data and information using state-of- the-art equipment. This information is used in planning the surgical intervention and in measuring outcomes postoperatively. The SEMLS program is offered through RCH and MCH. Access to rehabilitation close to home for families from rural and regional Queensland is supported through close collaboration with local services, Hub physiotherapy positions and brokerage as required.
Intrathecal Baclofen (ITB) Therapy is a reversible spasticity treatment for children with very strong and severe spasticity, particularly for those children where care and comfort are significantly compromised by their levels of spasticity or dystonia. A pump with a tube that delivers Baclofen directly into the child's spine is implanted in the child's body. As with any implanted device, there are risks and complications which can occur. As a result the program includes a significant amount of assessment and education for the child, family and GP/paediatrician before any recommendation is made for this life-long treatment. This CP Health program is offered at RCH.
Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) is a highly specialised permanent spasticity treatment where the neurosurgeon cuts selectively chosen dorsal nerve rootlets (sensory) in the spine. The technique is suitable for a very small number of children and requires significant pre-surgical assessment as well as a very intensive and lengthy post-operative rehabilitation program. RCH is working with Dr Mary Beth Dunn, neurosurgeon, from Gillette Children's Services, USA and partnering with both Sydney and Melbourne as programs continue to be developed in each state.
The CP Health Team also offers diagnostic assessment and clarification and coordination of services for children with Cerebral Palsy through its Neuropaediatric Clinic. This multidisciplinary clinic is lead by Paediatrician, Dr Nicola Previtera and Neurologist, Dr Kate Sinclair.
Location
CP Health is located on the 1st Floor of the Surgical Building, Royal Children's Hospital.
How to refer to CP Health
CP Health requires parents to obtain a written medical referral or their child. New referrals are accepted for young people with cerebral palsy up to 16 years of age. Referrals can be sent to one of the following RCH Rehabilitation Specialists or Paediatricians:
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Phone: Post: |
(07) 3636 5500 CP Health |
If a child already has an orthopaedic surgeon, this surgeon can refer directly to CP Health (as above) so children can access rehabilitation for the above programs. For children without an orthopaedic surgeon, orthopaedic referrals can be sent to Dr John Walsh or Dr Ivan Astori at the RCH and MCH.
Enquiries
Phone: 07 3636 5500
Fax: 07 3636 5480
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Director |
Megan Kentish |
Additional resources
Cerebral Palsy Newsletter
Other languages