View report page

59
neo-natal and post-natal periods of life. Arrangements have been
made for hospitals, doctors and midwives to notify the Medical
Officer of Health of any congenital malformation with which a
child may be born. This is done on the birth notification card soon
after birth. Thereafter, when the baby is discharged from hospital
or when the midwife has completed her attendance, if the child
is born at home, a further notification is made to the Medical
Officer of Health, setting out any factors or influences which, it
is thought, may have an adverse effect on the child's future health
and wellbeing.
Those babies who have been exposed to unfavourable heredity
or adverse experience are considered to be "at risk of handicap",
are given special attention by being kept under surveillance by the
Department and its doctors, and are subjected to special screening
tests for the purpose of early recognition of any handicaps that
might develop. This surveillance usually continues until the child
is aged two years, but may continue for five years in special
circumstances.
In order to ensure that each handicapped child makes the best
of whatever assets he or she possesses, a register is compiled of
children who are either handicapped or at risk of developing a
handicapping condition. In 1965, 17% of children born in that
year were placed on the Register.
During the year, particular attention was given to this part of
our work and I am indebted to Dr.E.H. Todd, Senior Medical
Officer in the Department, for the following information and for
supervising the compilation of the figures given in the following
tables:—