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99
'At Risk' Register
It has now been firmly established that certain factors in
pre-natal, perinatal and post natal periods give rise to greater
than average risks of a baby having or developing abnormalities.
All notifications of discharge of a mother from hospital or midwifery
care indicate whether an abnormal pregnancy, delivery or
puerperium have led to or are likely to render a child liable to a
developing handicap and, with the object of instituting early preventive
or modifying treatment, these circumstances are recorded in
the department's 'at risk' register. General progress of any child
in this register is regularly reviewed by a Medical Officer who
obtains reports from various sources to assist in an accurate up-todate
assessment. After a variable period of time the name of the
child who is subsequently found to be normal is removed from the
register and that of the child where an abnormality does develop is
transferred to the 'Handicapped' Register.
Although it is found that approximately one third of all children
born to residents in the Borough are 'at risk', the majority
develop normally. At the end of the current year there were 933
children listed in the 'at risk' register.
Handicapped Register
At 31st December, 1965, there were 351 children listed in this
register with the following defects: —
Retarded 100
Physically Handicapped 236
Limb Deformities 9
Spina bifida or meningocele 22
Double or treble handicap 52
By reason of the fact that several children have more than one
defect the total of handicaps is greater than the number of registered
children.
This register is also subject to regular review by a Medical
Officer and an Assistant Nursing Officer with a view not only to
ensuring that a child and its family receives all the necessary
guidance and support to help in the day-to-day problems in caring
for a handicapped child but that measures to meet a child's
special needs for education and recreation are planned well in
advance. Through the department's Health Visiting service a child
is 'followed-up' so that any necessary treatment is given at sui:able
times. All records accumulated in respect of such a child are made
available to the School Medical Officer when schooling commences.
In the case where a child is unable to attend school and where the
family is unable to provide continuous attention at home, community
or residential care, as appropriate, is arranged. Great