Leanne Suthanah – Paediatric Outpatients Manager, Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust

For Leanne Suthanah, the best time to support a child’s health is before a problem takes hold. As Paediatric Outpatients Manager at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, she leads a service built on that principle, giving children, young people, and their families the information and support they need to thrive, long before they might need more intensive care.

At the heart of Leanne’s work is the Growth Assessment Programme. During routine outpatient appointments, children have their height and weight measured and plotted against national growth centile charts,  a straightforward process that can reveal early signs of growth concerns, including overweight and obesity, that might otherwise go unnoticed until they become harder to address.

“For me, the NHS is about making a difference early, preventing future health problems and supporting children to thrive,” says Leanne.

When concerns are identified, families are supported with information, advice, and timely referrals to appropriate services. The programme has received consistently positive feedback from families who value both the monitoring and the opportunity to ask questions and discuss concerns in a supportive, non-judgmental environment.

The impact extends far beyond the clinic. By identifying risks early and helping families make informed choices, the programme works to reduce the likelihood of preventable conditions, from diabetes to cardiovascular disease, developing in later life. It is prevention in its most practical form: routine, accessible, and delivered at exactly the right moment in a child’s development.

For Leanne, this is what the NHS does best, showing up early, listening carefully, and helping families navigate what can sometimes feel like uncertain ground.