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(Sgd) Dr. N.C. Walsh
Deputy Medical Officer of Health
Advisory Service to the Children's Department
One senior medical officer in the department works in close liaison with
the Children's Department in providing advice on the medical aspects of
children in care. All residential nurseries, family homes and hostels belonging to
the Children's Department are visited once or twice yearly in order to provide
medical advice on health and hygiene generally and, in specific instances, advice
on the care of children with special problems or handicaps. Discussion with the
child's general practitioner, who is also the Visiting Medical Officer to the home,
takes place at these visits and on other occasions as required. Measures to investigate
and control any outbreaks of infection which may occur are taken in
consultation with the Visiting Medical Officer and the local Medical Officer of
Health for residential establishments situated outside the Borough.
Child care officers have ready access to the senior medical officer for
consultation, advice and guidance on any medical problems arising in the course
of their work. The oversight of various medical reports of children fostered or
boarded out, and medical reports on adoptions are the responsibility of this
medical officer. She is also a member of the Children's Department's Adoption
Panel and acts as the liaison officer with medical colleagues in other fields who