Batt O'Keeffe
Question:47 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health the integration, if any, which takes place between accident and emergency services and the reporting of child abuse. [17384/96]
Written Answers. - Reporting of Child Abuse Cases.
The procedures for the reporting of child abuse are set out in the 1987 Child Abuse Guidelines issued by the Department of Health. The guidelines set out the procedures to be followed if a suspected case of child abuse presents at any hospital. The hospital should inform the local director of comnmunity care/medical officer of health when a child is identified as having been abused or when discharging a child who is suspected of having been abused. All health boards have confirmed that procedures for reporting suspicions of child abuse are in place in accident and emergency departments of hospitals in their areas.
To ensure greater awareness and effective integration between accident and emergency services and the reporting of child abuse a number of specific initiatives have been undertaken by the health boards. These include training of hospital staff in relation to recognising and reporting child abuse, the formulation by a number of the health boards of regional protection procedures which are complementary to the Department's child abuse guidelines, and the organisation of a pilot project by the North-Western Health Board looking at the frequency of visits to accident and emergency by persons under 18 years of age.
As I have previously explained, I am currently considering the many complex issues raised during the consultative process on mandatory reporting and will be making an announcement regarding new reporting arrangements for cases of child abuse by the end of the year. The question of further initiatives to promote interdisciplinary co-operation on the reporting of child abuse will be reviewed in this context.