The Cleft National Service Specification expects all referrals for new babies and antenatal referrals to be responded to within 24 hours of referral. Therefore all antenatal, postnatal and neonatal referrals are regarded as urgent.
Antenatal and postnatal referrals should be made by telephone only.
After antenatal diagnosis the ultrasound department will refer to the Evelina London cleft service using the referral number above. The clinical nurse specialist (CNS) aims to make contact with the family within 24 hours.
If a baby is born with a cleft lip or palate the ward staff on the maternity unit will refer to the Evelina London cleft service using the referral number above. The CNS will make contact with the maternity unit to arrange to visit, carry out a feeding assessment and develop a management plan with the parents and hospital team.
Occasionally, referrals for older infants (up to the age of 1 year) may be made by a GP or health visitor. GP referrals need to be made through the NHS e-Referral Service. Parents may ask their GP or health visitor to make a referral if there are signs of a cleft.
The CNS team provide an on-call service for antenatal and postnatal referrals every day, including bank holidays.