Cerebral Palsy: Screening

(asked on 5th February 2018) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential financial savings to (a) health, (b) social care services and (c) education services of the early identification of cerebral palsy.


Answered by
Steve Brine Portrait
Steve Brine
This question was answered on 8th February 2018

No assessment has been made.

However, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published guidelines in January 2017 on the assessment and management of cerebral palsy. This provides authoritative, evidence-based guidance for healthcare professionals in identifying the early signs of cerebral palsy. Further information can be found via the following link:

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng62

Further to this, as part of the mandated reviews, health visitors (specialised nurses or midwives) assess the development of children between 0-5 years. They are skilled in early identification of delays, or concerns, in development. In such circumstances they will make a referral to a community paediatrician who will be able to diagnose any conditions, including cerebral palsy.

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