asked the Minister for Health the arrangements which are now in place to ensure that PKU testing on newly born infants takes place where mothers and babies are discharged early, a practice which has become increasingly prevalent in recent months due to cutbacks; the number of babies who are being sent home without the test; and the number of these who have been followed up.
Written Answers. - PKU Testing.
66.
Generally the PKU test is carried out on babies prior to their discharge from hospitals. Where this is not possible arrangements are made for the babies to return to the hospital or local health clinic or to be visited by the public health nurse, in order to have the necessary blood sample taken.
Without involving hospitals and health board staff in the time consuming task of checking all individual records it is not possible to state precisely how many babies have been sent home without the test. However, I am satisfied that arrangements are in place to ensure that all such cases are followed up.