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Handicapped and Observation Register
In my last Annual Report I described in great detail the operation of the
handicapped and observation register, the objects of which are:
(i) To follow up those children who are "at risk" of developing a handicap
because of genetic, pre-natal or post-natal history so that there is early
warning of a handicap developing
(ii) To ensure care and attention for the handicapped child and his family
(iii) To obtain statistical information to help the Department with its routine
work and to assist medical research.
Notification of these children is received from a number of sources, including
the birth notification, the discharge notice from the hospital or domiciliary midwife,
the health visitor, hospital reports and general practitioners.
The term "At Risk" is used normally to describe a baby whom the midwife,
general practitioner, obstetrician or hospital consultant considers may acquire a
handicap, mainly because of unusual circumstances pertaining prior to, at the time of,
or soon after birth. These children are medically examined at six monthly intervals
and are removed either on transfer to the handicapped section of the register, or
completely if they can walk, talk and are otherwise developmentally normal. The
"at risk" section of the register contained the names of 3,449 children at 31st December
1967.
A handicapped child may be defined as one who suffers from any continuing
disability of body, intellect or personality which is likely to interfere with his normal
growth, development and capacity to learn. Some handicaps are recognisable at
birth; for example, an obvious anatomical abnormality. Others, such as deafness,
blindness, metabolic disorders etc., must be deliberately looked for and discovered as
quickly as possible. During 1967, the number of babies notified as congenitally
malformed was 106. The number of handicapped children on the register at 31st
December 1967 was 534. (See also the report on the School Health Service.)
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