A and E database

[ZebraInHiding]

www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/dec/27/every-child-accident-emergency-dabatase

I thought they did this anyway? Don't they senda note to your health visitor?

Do you agree with it or do you think it will make people worry more? Whilst I can see the good in it, I worry that kids just won't get taken for help any more. Not sure what the solution is though. :(

[ZebraInHiding]

Arse. Link fail. www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/dec/27/every-child-accident-emergency-dabatase

[insancerre]

The previous labour party tried to do this- the difference being that evrey child would be on it so that all concerned with a child could have the same info so children at risk of being abused could be spotted sooner. Contactpoint it was called. The Condems binned it off.

[ZebraInHiding]

I didn't know that (recent to the uk). That's interesting though. Wonder what they feel the difference is now then?

(And apols if there is already a thread about this, I checked in the news section but couldn't see it)

[OodKingWenceslas]

Contactpoint was v useful ( work for children's services and was an early adopter) and would have got more so as it was expanded. It was canned by gov just after all the expensive stuff was done so not really much of a money saver ( probably would have saved a lot of time for SWs & other professionals long term.

We've recently had letters about an NHS database for all people here with an opt out form so that emergency staff could access your records ASAP. Adding CP flag would be easy if that rolls out across the country.

[Sirzy]

I would hope that if done properly this will be a big help when it comes to child protection.

[SilentSplendidSun]

I thought they had something similar to this already. My DD fell from the sofa during one of her high spirited swinging games. Rushed to AE thinking it might be a fracture. Just some swelling seen on the X rays. Dr gave a follow up appointment to fracture clinic just in case.

But we couldn't make it as she came down with the flu. Had to cancel the second rescheduled appointment today morning as well. Someone called back from the hospital and was very insistent that I bring her in at a later date. I assumed it was because she is a child, the injury is taken more seriously. If an adult cancelled, I don't think they would have given a second thought.

So children visiting A&E are automatically monitored, I would have thought. But it did make me defensive, I agree with you OP. my thinking was, "how dare they doubt me?"

[MrsJREwing]

I don't think this is the solution either.

[OodKingWenceslas]

Think at present it's down to individual hospitals/trusts. Lots of the high profile cases involved more than one hospital. So the hoe would be that crossing borders doesn't help

[Sirzy]

What is in place now is done on a local level whereas the new system will be on a national level.

[thegrowlygus]

Generally, as a GP we do get the A&E attendances from our own A&E department locally, but if a child is out of area we don't necessarily get it or get it very quickly.
It becomes even more of an issue if mum and dad are separated and one lives some distance away as often if health visitors are in different localities they don't get the info automatically passed on. So if someone is abusing their child and using several different A&E departments in different parts of the country and giving different GPs as registered their registered GP it would be relatively easy to 'get away with it'.

So I think it would be good idea. The NHS system isn't as "joined up" as most people assume it is.

[CajaDeLaMemoria]

My parents would use my sisters date of birth/names/details, and sometimes even my friends.

So this wouldn't have helped me. Although in theory it looks good, I'm not sure that practically it will work for everyone.

[MrsJREwing]

I have a rare condition that if not picked up could look like child abuse, I dislocate joints easily, bruise easily, even with a dx Dr's don't understand it from my experience, do I need to go on?

[OodKingWenceslas]

I thought that caja I'm sorry that it happened to you :(

[ZebraInHiding]

Sorry to hear that caja :(

Yes, it seems it isn't as joined up as I thought. I didn't realise it was so local.

[Spero]

As far as I know every A and E attendance is noted - I certainly got a letter when my daughter nearly lost her finger tip. But it just invited me to call Children's Services if I wanted any help s it was pretty useless if I had been abusing her - no one came to check my home etc.

My worry is that this will simply become part of the check box culture I.e. I have filled in a form, so that's ok. Simply gathering information does NOT protect children. For that you need someone to analyse that info, check for disturbing patterns, weed out genetic conditions etc.

I thought it had been made clear over over again and certainly since Victoria Climbie was murdered, that to protect children, all agencies need to work together, police, hospitals and schools.

I think a data base is fraught with problems, from wrongly entering details to simply just gathering a whole load of info which doesn't assist because no one has the time to do joined up thinking.

[MrsJREwing]

Here is where this country fails, checking out genetic conditions.

What do you do when GOSH has a different opinion to the leading expert in country who advises DWP, regarding a genetic condition? children with my condition have this issue, thank goodness my kids don't go there.

What do you do when SS send parents for MHBP evaluation without first checking for genetic conditions? someone with my condition had to point this out to a sw.

What do you do when a consultant at A&E doesn't understand a rare condition and doesn't give a correct dx, for example my child saw the leading expert he said it wasn't a pulled muscle as per the dx given by a registra and consultant at A&E.

Parents with my condition or with children with this condition will be targeted. It is rare, not that rare and thought to be very underdiagnosed.

I have little faith this will work and believe it will cause damage to innocent families who will never be offered so much as an apology.

[OhMittens]

That must be a real concern, MrsJREwing and I sympathise - I can imagine how distressing it must be to have a rare condition that on the face of it could share the same symtoms displayed by those who have been abused.

However, if a decent "linked-up" system was actually in place, then your condition surely would be noted for example, meaning that an official diagnosis has been made, which would reduce the need to explain for every visit?

[MrsJREwing]

Our condition has been named in the children's act. The problem is even Dr's don't understand it and it is underdiagnosed.

[SofiaAmes]

I second everything that MrsJREwing has said. My ds has a genetic condition. His symptoms (vomiting, extreme fatigue, migraine, stomach ache, severe colds, high fevers) are not as synonymous with physical abuse as MrsJREwing's are, but it did mean that he was in A&E half a dozen times a year since he was born and I got many comments from health/education professionals along the way implying that I was making up ds' symptoms and/or somehow causing them. Ds' condition is rare enough and symptoms non-specific enough that he was only just diagnosed (with a mitochondrial dna mutation) 8 months ago and he is 12! (He is now being treated with nutrients and is totally healthy.) 2012 was the first year that ds didn't visit A&E.
I wonder how this new system would log in ds' hospital visits?

[MrsJREwing]

Let me give you an example of how wrong all this linking can get and damage innocent famies? That is professionals harming children!

Due to the condition I once applied for DLA for my children years ago, school brought up the fact I said my child had aniety on the form as "a concern" they are symptoms of the condition.

Later a truancy officer demanded my other child be removed from my care from ss as my child was school refusing, not uncommon with the symptoms of her condition.

A deputy head later demanded ss remove my children due to me emotionally abusing my child, her evidence, my child had a panic attack in school, a symptom of her condition.

I only found this out recently after requesting school files.

My children's origional dx letter from juniour school has been lost from secondary school files and mysteriously a medical letter I never gave the scho is on their files, which explains my dd school refusal to school as part of her condition.

I am in the middle of unpicking what the fuck has been going in behind my back.

I do not trust the system.

[MrsJREwing]

BTW, my children have never been on plans as far as I know from ss. I suspect my GP gave ss that letter behind my back, I suspect to prove to school and truancy woman they were going down the wrong road. I am not impressed private medical information was shared without my permission or knowledge and I suspect it is illegal.

[SofiaAmes]

Again, totally agree with MrsJREwing. My ds missed many many weeks of school over the years. I was meticulous about doctor's letters and all information going into his file. I can't tell you the number of times I had to re-submit reports, letters and information to the school for his file. In 5th grade, ds missed 8 weeks of school (2 intractable multi week migraines, appendicitis, went blind for 3 days from a migraine). On top of this he was on an evil cocktail of mind numbing drugs to treat the migraine. During all of this I submitted multiple doctors letters and kept the teacher and school apprised of all information and collected all homework and kept ds up with all his schoolwork. Teacher's only comment on report card was "missed excessive amounts of school"!!!!

[SofiaAmes]

By the way, MrsJR....you probably know this already, but there has been great success treating genetic conditions with the nutrients missing or not being utilized correctly by the affected metabolic pathways. I don't know if that applies to your/your dc's condition.....

[MrsJREwing]

Ohhh I don't know. I had a different dx, changed recently so still learning and Dr's seem to know less than me, unless experts. We have gastro issues, me IBS and kids other GI issues.

[Dromedary]

This will inevitably encourage parents (both good parents and those few who abuse) not to take their child to A & E. A&E departments already act as though on high alert if any child comes in. A high percentage of parents who take their children into A&E are referred through to other agencies as suspicious.