SLT for Kids
Private
Oldham
Children's health clinics
Children's health services include private paediatric clinics and child development services, covering everything from general childhood illnesses to assessment of growth, behaviour and development. Paediatricians are doctors on the GMC's specialist register, and private children's clinics in England are registered with and inspected by the Care Quality Commission. Some services are led by allied health professionals registered with the HCPC.
When families use these services
- General paediatrics — assessment of childhood illnesses and ongoing conditions.
- Child development — assessment of speech, behaviour, learning and developmental concerns.
- Specialist referrals — access to paediatric specialists, often with shorter waits privately.
NHS care for children
Children in the UK receive a great deal of care free on the NHS, including GP care, immunisations, health visiting and hospital paediatrics. Some families choose private clinics for faster assessment or a second opinion. NHS and private care can work alongside each other.
If your child is unwell
Trust your instincts. For urgent concerns, contact your GP or call NHS 111; for a child who is seriously unwell — for example struggling to breathe, very drowsy or with a non-fading rash — call 999. This page is information only and not medical advice.
Last updated: 2026-06-14
Frequently Asked Questions
Some private children's clinics accept self-referral, while others prefer a referral from your GP. Contact the clinic to check. Your GP and NHS paediatric services remain available free for children.
It is an assessment of areas such as speech and language, behaviour, learning and physical development, carried out by appropriately qualified professionals. It can help identify whether a child would benefit from further support. This is not medical advice — discuss concerns with a clinician.
Paediatricians are doctors on the GMC's specialist register, and private children's clinics in England are registered with and inspected by the Care Quality Commission. Some services are led by allied health professionals registered with the HCPC.
Call 999 if a child is struggling to breathe, is very drowsy or unresponsive, or has a rash that does not fade under a glass. For urgent but non-emergency concerns, contact your GP or call NHS 111. Trust your instincts.