§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what studies have been carried out by or for his Department into trends in child health, nationally, regionally or locally.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe following studies are currently funded by the Department and are either wholly or in part concerned with trends in child health.
Professor F. Harris, Institute of Child Health, University of Liverpool—Liverpool Congenital Malformations Registry.Professor O. H. Wolff and Dr. I. Smith, Institute of Child Health, London University Phenylketonuria Register. Jointly funded with Medical Research Council.Professor W. Holland, United Medical and Dental Schools, St. Thomas' Campus, London, National Study of Health and Growth.Dr. I. Chalmers, National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Oxford—a range of projects are being undertaken by this unit.Professor D. L. Miller, St. Mary's Hospital Medical School, London—National Childhood Encephalopathy Study.Dr. D. L. Crombie, General Practice Research Unit, Birmingham—National Morbidity Studies.Professor R. Davie, National Children's Bureau—National Child Development Study.Dr. W. 0. Williams, Royal College of GPs, Swansea Research Unit —The long-term effects of whooping cough in children.Professor M. Stacey, University of Warwick—Overview of research on the provision and utilisation of the child health services. This includes details of some locally and centrally funded projects completed between 1980 and 1984.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps the Government have taken to reduce social class inequalities in child health.
§ Mr. HayhoeThe Government's policy is aimed at directing health care services towards the most vulnerable groups of people and towards those areas of the country with the greatest need. In the field of child health, the Government have endorsed the recommendations of the maternity services advisory committee, which emphasised the need for a high level of maternity and neonatal services. The Government have also initiated campaigns to improve the take-up of vaccination and immunisation; and is discussing with the professional bodies concerned the content and scope of child health surveillance. These activities will benefit those children whose health needs may arise from social inequalities.