asked the Minister for Health if he will consider setting up a register in all health board areas to record non-accidental injuries to children.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Child Injuries.
11.
The establishment of registers of the type envisaged by the Deputy is one of the main recommendations of the report of a Committee on Non-Accidental Injury to Children which was published recently.
The views of the various health and social services interests involved with this problem of non-accidental injury to children have been sought on the report. When these views are to hand and have been considered, I intend to issues guidelines on the procedures to be adopted for the future identification of these children and for the management of this problem. These guidelines will cover the question of the establishment of registers.
Is the Minister aware that there is sufficient evidence now available to show that non-accidental injuries to children are becoming a great problem? Would the Minister agree that that where there is a suspected or approved case even at this very moment that a record of such cases should be kept, because I believe——
A question, Deputy Wyse.
Would the Minister agree that if a record is kept it would at least give an opportunity to the community care director, his social workers and other professional people to become involved and help in particular cases?
With all due respect, I do not think the Deputy's supplementary question was necessary because I agree with him entirely. What he has said has been borne out by the report of the Committee on Non-Accidental Injury to Children. The main thing the Deputy wants to ascertain is whether or not a register will be kept. A register will be kept but as I have said I have sent the report that was published recently to the health agencies to get their views on it. I have no doubt that one of the main recommendations, which is the establishment of a register will be adopted by them and I personally would approve of that. Whether or not it would be a central register has not been decided and whether or not it would be a register for each health board has not yet been decided but, again, I would favour the establishment of a register in each of the health boards.
Until the time a register is established, would the Minister consider sending a notice to all hospitals in the larger cities telling them to watch out for these battered babies because we know that the practice is that the people who injure children send them to one hospital one week and to another hospital the following week? It would probably take a year before the register is ready.
All these recommendations including the one to which Deputy Moore referred are contained in the report and I have no doubt that the recommendations will be generally accepted. I appreciate the point that the Deputy made with regard to children being referred to different hospitals but instructions and guidelines will be given to doctors and social workers and all those who are concerned with child welfare.
Question No. 12.
But in the meantime would the Minister consider my suggestion?
Order.
I think that is contained in the report. Directions and advice will also be given to medical practitioners and to all those in the health services to ensure that this problem will be resolved.
I agree that it is in the report but there is urgency in this matter and I know that reports take quite some time before they are analysed and prepared.
A question please, Deputy.
I recommend to the Minister that he should ask health boards to prepare records now on such matters.
That will be done as quickly as possible.