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30
CHILDREN "AT RISK"
Cases of children who are thought to be specially susceptible to
handicaps are reported at birth by midwives, on special cards printed for
the purpose. From these and other reports the "at risk" register is compiled
and the medical and nursing staff pay particular attention to the babies who
are included. Screening tests for impaired hearing are carried out and the
babies are also watched carefully in case any evidence of the relevant
abnormalities develops.
Information about children remaining on this register at the age of
five years is transferred to the school health records.
The total number of children on this register at 31st December 1967
was 3396.
Of the 2139 children born alive in the borough during 1967, 932
were added to the "at risk" register, a percentage of 4-3.6. Many children
are taken off the register when it is established that their physical and
mental development is normal and they are no longer considered to be "at risk".
Children are also removed at the time of entry to school. The number removed
in 1967 was 587.
The register is used to indicate children in the 0-5 age group who
are likely to require special educational facilities. This also forms a basis
for co-ordination between the mental health section and the other sections and
departments concerned with the welfare and observation of pre-school children.
Congenital Malformations
48 babies were notified at birth as congenitally malformed. Of these
3 were stillborn and 5 subsequently died, 4 of the deaths being a direct result
of the abnormality notified; the fifth was due to prematurity, the malformation
being a contributory cause. 40 babies had survived at the end of 1967. Details
according to the Registrar-General's classification are as follows: