Conditions Treated
As a specialist children's hospital we are proud to be able to offer a premier, multi-disciplinary service.
Our main paediatric specialty areas are:
- Acute neurological rehabilitation
Our new five-bedded acute neurological rehabilitation unit offers a child-centred, multi-disciplinary, in-patient programme run by specialist consultants and a full rehabilitation team comprising a 24/7 resident paediatric medical officer, specialist neuro-physiotherapist, occupational therapist, speech and language therapist, dietician and psychologist, as well as rehabilitation nurses.
- Allergies
The paediatric Allergy and Immunology Service manages a wide range of allergic diseases including food allergies, eczema, severe allergic reactions to insect stings and medication as well as hayfever. Specific immunotherapy treatment can be used to “switch off” certain pollen and other respiratory allergies. The team is internationally renowned for its research into the role of diet and weaning, on subsequent child health and the development of allergies.
- Audiology
Each month our audiology department performs more than 1,500 tests on children with hearing and balance-related disorders. A range of technology is used to help our patients including digital hearing aids, bone-anchored hearing aids and cochlear implants. Patients as young as newborns, right through to adults are referred to us by GPs and consultants.
- Cardiology and echocardiography
- Child development and behaviour
- Childhood Immunisations
- Children’s One-Stop Hernia Clinic
The Portland Hospital is the UK’s largest Independent Children’s Hospital, devoted to caring for babies and children up to the age of 16 years.
The Children’s One-Stop Hernia Clinic at The Portland Hospital uniquely offers a same-day consultation and surgical service for inguinal hernia repair in babies and children with a highly qualified Consultant Paediatric Surgeon - Mr Niall Jones MD FRCSI (Paed).
Mr Niall Jones, a leading gastrointestinal specialist, he provides laparoscopic (keyhole) gastrointestinal surgery for children from birth to teenage years.
Inguinal hernias are very common in babies and children, occurring in up to 2% of children which means on average every 1 child out of 50 children will suffer from a hernia.
Both boys and girls often present with groin swellings known as inguinal hernias. A hernia is the protrusion of an organ for example the intestine for boys or the ovary for girls. The inguinal hernia appears as a bulge or swelling in the groin.
A hernia is usually initially identified by parents when they notice a swelling or bulge in their child's groin area. The swelling is typically present on coughing or running, and disappears on lying down and relaxing. The diagnosis of hernia is usually based on the parent's history of observing this intermittent swelling.
All inguinal hernias in children are treated by surgery to avoid complications such as pain or strangulation i.e. when the herniated organ loses its blood supply and dies. This can lead to the need for an emergency operation.
The Children’s One-Stop Hernia Clinic allows patients to be examined in the morning by Mr Jones with day-case surgery that afternoon (in the absence of any significant medical conditions). The child will generally be discharged to go home that evening. Babies under six weeks of age will need to stay overnight for routine observation. All children will be followed up six weeks post-operatively.
For further information on the Hernia Clinic please view the following documents:
To arrange a consultation appointment for your child - or your patient - with Mr Niall Jones for the Children’s One Stop Hernia Clinic please contact The Portland Hospital Enquiry Line on 020 7390 8020.
- Clinical psychology
- Cochlear implants
Our cochlear implant programme was set up in 1997 and comprises a dedicated multi-disciplinary group of professionals including audiologists, speech therapists, ENT surgeons & audiology physicians. The quality of life of more than 90 children have been improved by our internationally renowned team who have helped these profoundly hearing-impaired children gain access to the world of sound.
- Dentistry
- Dermatology
Our team of dermatologists take care of babies and children with all types of skin disease or cosmetic problems of the skin, scalp, hair or nails. In a typical week they might diagnose and treat children with problem birthmarks, complex vascular malformations, eczema, psoriasis, and common disorders of pigmentation.
- Dietician
- Ear, nose and throat (ENT)
Our paediatric Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) consultants provide care for children with a wide range of ENT problems including 'glue ear', otitis media, surgical correction of congenital ear anomalies, neck cysts and lumps, sinus and voice disorders, through to common tonsillitis and adenoid surgery. They are also involved in the management of complex airway conditions including airway obstructions caused by tumours and tracheotomy care.
- Endocrinology
The Portland's paediatric endocrinologists treat children with a variety of physical growth and puberty development disorders, as well as diabetes and other disorders of the endocrine glands including adrenal, thyroid and pituitary problems.
- Gastroenterology
Our paediatric gastroenterologists specialise in the assessment and treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as the pancreas and the liver.
- Geneticist
- General medical paediatrics
Our 15-strong team of consultant paediatricians offer two levels of care: the assessment and management of acutely unwell children within the hospital, and an outpatient service for those children who require general paediatric consultations. They also provide a comprehensive baby assessment for all 2,500 babies born at The Portland every year.
- General surgical paediatrics
The team of general paediatric surgeons at The Portland carry out surgical reviews for all conditions from common appendicitis to complex neonatal surgery and, more recently, obesity.
- Haematology
- Hand Surgery
Hand Surgery may be necessary if a child has an accident or if they have been born with a congenital anomaly to their hand. Here at The Portland we are fortunate to have a specialist clinic that caters for children of all ages. Our team of consultant hand surgeons bring world renowned expertise in the field of paediatric hand surgery and treat a wide range of conditions ranging from syndactyly, polydactyly and hypoplastic thumb to radial club-hand.
- Muscle disease
- Nephrology
- Neurology
Our team of neurologists and neurosurgeons investigate, diagnose and treat neurological conditions in children, ranging from behavioural syndromes and headache disorders including migraine, epilepsy and sleep disorders to traumatic brain injury and cerebral palsy.
- Neurosurgery
- Oncology
- Ophthalmology
In our ophthalmology department our team of specialist paediatric ophthalmologists are on hand to help children with all eye conditions using the very latest diagnostic equipment and techniques, not to mention medicines available. The most common surgical conditions we treat include squints and clearance of occluded ducts.
- Orthopaedics
Our world-renowned paediatric orthopaedic surgeons deal with common problems such as flat feet and fractures as well as clubfoot and congenital hip problems through to complex leg-lengthening procedures. They are supported by a team of specialist nurses, physiotherapists, and orthotists and work closely with their rheumatology and neurology colleagues to ensure a fully integrated assessment and treatment approach.
- Orthotist
- Pharmacy Department
Our in-house pharmacy provides specialist paediatric skills for the often complex needs of our children on the ward and the large number of outpatients who visit daily.
- Plastic and reconstructive surgery
The Plastic and Reconstructive Surgical team's special areas of expertise include: craniofacial surgery, cleft lip and palate repair, bat ear correction, vascular anomalies and birthmarks.
- Respiratory
The respiratory department here at The Portland cares for children with respiratory diseases including asthma, acute and chronic respiratory infections, chronic ventilator dependency and broncho¬pulmonary dysplasia. Our consultants and their teams have special expertise in babies and children with respiratory conditions including sleep apnoea, sleep-disordered breathing, as well as respiratory muscle weakness and paralysis.
- Rheumatology
- Spinal Surgery
Our highly-skilled spinal surgeons provide a comprehensive assessment and surgical opinion service for all spinal-related conditions including common childhood deformities such as scoliosis, which can be performed via keyhole surgery. Thanks to the team’s excellent reputation, children and their families (and referring doctors) from all over the world regularly choose The Portland when seeking treatment for complex spinal conditions.
- Urology
Our paediatric urologists provide a specialist service for the diagnosis and management of children with urological disorders. Commonly seen disorders range from urinary incontinence, circumcisions, undescended testis, hydrocoele, varicocoele and urinary tract stones or infections through to major surgical reconstruction of the bladder.
For further information on the services offered, please contact the Children's Outpatients department on 020 7390 6504 or contact the office of a relevant Consultant specialist to book an initial appointment.
