Southend MP Anna Firth visits the Lighthouse Child Development Centre

Southend MP Anna Firth visited the Lighthouse Child Development Centre to see how it is supporting children and young people with complex needs.

The centre in Snakes Lane, Southend, provides specialist assessments and outpatient care and has been managed by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust since March 2022.

Ms Firth met staff and service users during a guided tour on Thursday 16 February. She also met EPUT’s chief executive Paul Scott; Lynnbritt Gale, director of community delivery and partnerships for South East Essex; Hannah Van Der Puije, assistant director of community specialist children’s health services in South East Essex; and Dr Feena Sebastian, deputy medical director for Mid and South Essex Community Delivery.

Mr Scott said: “It was a pleasure to be able to show Anna Firth the Trust’s Lighthouse Child Development Centre and enable her to meet some of our fantastic staff who work tirelessly day in and out to provide outstanding care to service users.”

Ms Firth said: “It was such a pleasure to tour the centre and see the warm, tailored care that NHS staff are providing to some of Southend’s youngest people.

“I was delighted to see the Lighthouse actively seeking to build relationships with both parents and teachers, whilst also cutting waiting times.

“I will be sure to bang the drum in Westminster on their amazing work, and seek further investment in their facilities for the betterment of all.”

The Lighthouse Child Development Centre offers a range of services including occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy and psychological support. It also offers a neurodevelopmental diagnostic pathway for children and young people who may have autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, dyspraxia, tics or Tourette’s syndrome. For more information, visit https://eput.nhs.uk/our-services/the-lighthouse-child-development-centre/