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20
BATTERED CHILDREN
This remains a serious problem. The scheme for bringing to the
notice of the Statutory Authorities cases of definite suspicion of
injury to children was mentioned in the 1970 Annual Report. Seventyfive
children at risk of battering have been kept under the surveillance
of the Health Department throughout the year.
Notifications of battering, suspected battering, other maltreatment
of children are invited from all workers and the Health Department is
responsible for passing on information to the Social Services Department
where necessary and to the Divisional Education Welfare Officer if the
child is of school age. A note is also sent to the child's General
Practitioner advising him of any action taken. If a Case Conference is
held all the workers involved are invited to attend and the Social
Services Department has the discretion whether to report the case to
the police.
In many cases the Health Department staff work with the staff of
the Social Services Department and other agencies, to ensure, as far
as possible, no further injuries befall the children.
Hospital staff are increasingly aware of this problem and give
much help in referring suspect cases. Often only one child suffers acutely
but support has to be given to the whole family in order to help and
protect the siblings. A Health Visitor sees the family frequently and
reports regularly to the Senior officers of this department.
An index of children known to the Health Department as having been
battered or at risk of injury or maltreatment is held and reviewed
weekly by a Principal Medical Officer and Senior Nursing Officer.
At this stage it is not known what causes the apparent increase in
child battering. In spite of our concern new cases do occur as part of
the social scene.
OBSERVATION AND HANDICAPPED REGISTER
Details of all pre-school children who, it is thought, are at risk
of developing a handicap are recorded on the observation register
which is kept on a Kalamazoo Punch card system to facilitate systematic
follow-up. If the Medical Officer subsequently reports that the child's
development has proceeded normally, the child is removed from the
register. If, however, a handicapping condition is found, the child's
name is transferred to the handicap section of the register, along with
details of all handicapped school children. All children are reviewed
annually about their month of birth so that the register is kept
"live