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Observation and Handicap Register
Babies are considered to be at risk of developing a handicap by
reason of adverse factors occurring during pregnancy, labour, or the
lying-in period, and the names of such children are entered in the Observation
Register. This Register is scrutinised at regular periods by a
Medical Officer so that the child's progress and development may be kept
under review. Should a handicap become evident the child's name is transferred
to the Handicap Register.
Observation Register
623 (669) cases in 19 70 were notified of whom 2(4) had been transferred
to the Handicap Register by the 31st December 19 70.
Handicap Register
The table below is an analysis of notifications in 1970 and relates
to 45 children born in that year. 116 (109) cases were placed on the
Register, of whom 2(4) had been transferred from the Observation Register.
28 (12) had been notified through the scheme for reporting malformations
at birth. 13(9) were subsequently removed from the Register due to change
of address or death:
Mongol 3 (4)
Educationally/Severely Sub-Normal 2 (23)
Spina Bifida 2 (4)
Congenital Heart Disease 5 (10)
Hare Lip - Cleft Palate 2 (4)
Talipes 7 (3)
Abnormalities of Genito-Urinary
Tract 4 (10)
Limb Abnormalities 6 (4)
Delayed Speech 1 (3)
Disease of Blood - (4)
Disease of Nervous System 1 (9)
Cretin - (-)
Coeliac Disease - (1)
Deaf & Partial Hearing 2 (3)
Eye Defects - (5)
Cystic Fibrosis - (1)
Spastic 2 (4)
Epilepsy 2 (6)
Skin Diseases - (1)
Cerebral Palsy - (2)
Asthma - (4)
Multiple Defects 2 (4)
Other 4 (-)
The total number on the Handicap Register at the end of 1970 was 272,
Scheme for Reporting Congenital Malformations
The Scheme rests on information being sent to the Medical Officer of
Health by the doctor or midwife notifying a birth (as required by Section
203 of the Public Health Act 1936) of any malformation of the child
observable at birth. The Medical Officer of Health is required to return
to the Director and Registrar General a standard form for every child
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