Hi Everyone,
I am an long time member of BB but haven't been around in ages. I've just learnt that my niece born 10 weeks premature on 12 Feb 2009 in London is likely to have cerebral palsy, probably with epilepsy and intellectual disability. My brother and SIL are still in London and have been having a really tough time trying to get any social or medical support there.

At 10 months old (7.5months corrected), neither GPs or Paeds in London seem able to diagnose any problem nor do they seem willing to do any kind of intervention. It is apparently not even contemplated until the child is 2.

My SIL is Russian and recently spent a month in Moscow where the medical fraternity have a completely different approach and are much more into early intervention. She came back to London and immediately made an appointment with a neurologist who has just diagnosed the CP and has ordered a raft of other tests (to make sure it is not something else genetic or prorgressive) and a MRI for next week.

I would love to hear from any mums in Australia about your experiences with treatment and support for CP. My brother is willing to move anywhere in the world to get the best treatment for his daughter. We would like him to return to Australia so we can support him and his girls.

So can you help?

If you can answer the following kinds of questions I would be eternally grateful.

1. What town/city and state do you live in?

2. When was your child first diagnosed?

3. What kind of tests were carried out? when?

4. what kind of treatment/medication/support do you get for your child?

5. Is it covered by medicare or for free or do you have to pay? Or is it covered by private health insurance?

6. How would you rate the medical services you have available to you?

7. Are there any places/clinics/physicians that you would recommend?

8. Can you please PM me to get my email address if you need to tell me about a physician/place to avoid (i.e don't slander anyone in response to this thread).

9. What about other support services?

10. How important has having a parent or other close family around been to helping you with your child?

11. Is there anything else you can advise me about the system in Australia with respect to CP that might help my brother decide whether he should return to Australia or stay in the UK?

12. Do you know any other BB members I can approach who might be able to help me out here?

thanks in advance

Kar