View report page

Wherever suitable, the opportunity is taken to increase liaison with general practitioners,
particularly in group practices, in preparation for further attachment schemes
when the staffing situation allows.
Handicap and Observation Register
The objects of the register are:—
1 To follow up those children who are at risk of developing a handicap because of
genetic, pre-natal or post-natal history and to observe their developmental progress.
2 To ensure that all possible help is given to handicapped children and their
families.
3 To obtain all necessary information to help these functions to be carried out and
to assist medical research.
The information on which the register is based is provided by hospitals, general
practitioners, domiciliary midwives, clinical medical officers and health visitors. The
Senior Medical Officer decides if a child shall be included in the register and is responsible
for assessing the continuing reports on a child. During 1971 visits were made to
all Infant Welfare Centres and 4,001 such reviews were made in consultation with the
health visitors concerned. In addition hospital reports were requested and received on
children who were under observation.
Children are removed from the register when they have been considered to be
developmentally normal, retained if they need further observation and help or transferred
to the School Health Service when they are receiving formal education i.e.
nursery classes or specialised schools.
At 31 December 1971 there were 2,860 children on the register, an average of 73
being added each month. The number of babies notified during the year as congenitally
malformed was 68.
Close liaison with the Newcomen Centre at Guy's Hospital has been maintained.
Southwark bears 50% of the cost of a specialists service and provides a health visitor
for the necessary follow-up for children and families in the Borough.
The Deputy Medical Officer of Health and Principal Medical Officers conduct
an assessment session at the Newcomen Centre and hold special assessment clinics at
the child welfare clinics in the Borough. Reports from the Newcomen Centre were
received on all Southwark children who attended the clinic and the appropriate
recommendations were carried out.
24