Tongue tie

Service overview

Our tongue tie service offers assessments and advice for babies who are suspected of having a tongue tie. Our specially trained nurses will rectify the tongue tie through a simple procedure (‘frenectomy’) where it is severely affecting breastfeeding.

If your baby has a suspected tongue tie that is impacting on breastfeeding, you will receive a letter inviting you and your baby to attend an appointment with one of our specialist nurses who will assess the tongue tie.

You will need to bring your Personal Child Health Record ('red book') to the assessment.

At the assessment, the specially trained health professional will discuss your baby’s breastfeeding history and will examine your baby's tongue tie. You will also receive advice on breastfeeding.

Your baby may or may not then be offered the tongue tie procedure, depending on the level of impact on breastfeeding.

If the nurse recommends the tongue tie procedure, it will be undertaken during the appointment. Before doing the procedure, the nurse will explain what is involved in tongue tie separation, the risks involved and you will be asked to sign a consent form.

After the tongue tie separation we encourage you to breastfeed your baby and attend a breastfeeding café or group in your area within one week of the procedure so you can receive further support with breastfeeding if you need this. No further treatment is usually required.

Please note: If you are unable to make the date and time offered, please call the tongue tie administrator (whose details will be on the letter) so they can offer you an alternative. If you no longer need or wish your baby to have the assessment, please call the administrator so the appointment can be offered to another baby.

To refer

Children can be referred by their health visitor, GP, therapist, early years' service, paediatricians based in the local acute or tertiary hospital, paediatric audiology, CAMHS or other agencies.

Referrals are made via the Children and Family Health Surrey One Stop, a centralised referral and triage service for Surrey's specialist children's services that was launched in July 2017.

The three ways to refer are:

1. Through the Children and Family Health Surrey One Stop online portal. This is the same portal as the CAMHS Mindsight One Stop service

2. Call the Children and Family Health Surrey One Stop on 0300 222 5755. Open 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday. This is the same number as the CAMHS Mindsight One Stop service

3. Write to Children and Family Health Surrey One Stop, c/o Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, 1st Floor, Dominion House, Woodbridge Road, Guildford GU1 4PU.

Read more about the One Stop service.

Teams and contact details

Mid Surrey area (covering Banstead, Dorking, East Elmbridge, Epsom, Ewell, Leatherhead and Tattenham)

Health Visitor Advice Line
9.30am-1pm Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays)
Tel: 020 8979 6464

East Surrey area (covering Redhill, Reigate, Merstham, Horley, Oxted, Caterham and Lingfield)

Health Visitor Advice Line:
8am to 5pm Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays)
Tel: 01883 340 922

West Surrey area (covering Woking, Guildford, Runnymede, Spelthorne, West Elmbridge, Surrey Heath and Waverley boroughs)

If you need advice and support about any aspect of caring for your child, including their health, development and behaviour, please contact your area team on the numbers below.

Sure Start Children’s Centres are located in your local community and offer advice and support for families with children under five years. Services include: breastfeeding support, and information about nutrition and healthy lifestyles from pregnancy and beyond.