A clinical Nurse Specialist is usually the first member of the regional Cleft team that you meet if you have a baby with a cleft lip/palate. We will meet you following diagnosis and referral, whether you have been referred antenatally, or following the birth of your baby. The CNS will contact you as soon as the referral is received and provide you with up to date information and expert knowledge and advice about what to expect on your child’s cleft journey from 0-20 years of age.
The clinical nurse specialist service: Information for parents and carers | CUH
Our Clinical nurse specialists provide an on call service for new referrals 365 days per year, and can be contacted via the Cleft Office number 01223 596272. Your CNS will introduce themselves to you and will offer you her mobile phone number for you to contact between 9-5 Monday to Friday. An out of hour’s service over the weekends is also covered by one of the clinical nurse specialist team. If your own CNS is on leave or days off, her mobile phone will divert to another member of the CNS team.
Although based at Addenbrookes Hospital, we offer an outreach service in your local area, including hospital and home visiting. Each CNS offers the specialist nursing service across a defined geographical area within the Eastern Region.
We provide ongoing specialist advice and support, regarding your baby's cleft lip and/or palate, from initial the initial diagnosis to the teenage years. We have expert knowledge in feeding assessment and management, pre-and post-operative care, and all other aspects of cleft care including access to other support services within the cleft team and at our outreach hospitals.
Lou Harris - Lead Clinical Nurse Specialist
Lesley Beckson - Clinical Nurse Specialist
Tracey Eddy - Clinical Nurse Specialist
Claire Fitzsimon - Clinical Nurse Specialist
Tracey Taylor - Clinical Nurse Specialist
Angela Benucci - Paediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist