§ Dame Joan Vickersasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will recommend to general practitioners and those doctors in charge of children, when in hospital, to refer to the local medical officer of health any child they consider to be battered in order that they can be visited by a health visitor who is, by her training, qualified to recognise the signs of illtreatment.
155W
§ Sir K. JosephMy Department has issued a memorandum to all concerned with the management of non-accidental injury to children with the object of increasing professional awareness of the syndrome and recommending appropriate action, and has followed this up periodically with further information. The memorandum stresses the importance of early recognition of child abuse and deals with the rôles of doctors in hospital and general practice, medical officers of health and health visitors amongst others. The memorandum also recommends co-ordinated action by all the various services concerned in order to secure early recognition and avoidance of further risk for the child. I am sending a copy of the memorandum and two subsequent circulars to my hon. Friend.