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Metric recording of birthweights
During the year local maternity hospitals were contacted and asked to
record the birth weights of babies in metric units, because of probable
future trends, and this was agreed. Height and weight metric conversion
charts were issued to all child health centres.
BATTERED CHILDREN
In spite of the very considerable supportive visiting and help given
to these families by both Health Visitors and Social Services staff this
continues to be a grave problem.
The number of children known to the Health Department who are at risk
of battering or who have been battered has risen to 89. This includes 29
new cases. Thenumbermay reflect to some degree our anxiety when an accident
occurs to any young child. Possibly, we have been over-conscientious.
The procedure adopted by this Department was recorded last year. However,
it may be of interest to mention it here again.
Notifications of battering, suspected battering, or 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 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 cases on it are discussed
frequently by a Principal Medical Officer and an Area Nursing Officer.