Paediatric hip screening in the UK is beset with problems. This is of concern to both health professionals and parents, as a late diagnosis of a congenital dislocated hip (CDH) or developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) can be devastating; requiring surgery, many months in a full body cast, and can often lead to disability later in life. In contrast, early detection and treatment is relatively non-invasive, simple and generally leads to normal hip development. STEPS Director, Sue Banton was a member of the MRC Working Party on CDH and has been advising the National Screening Committee Child Health Subgroup on new screening policies for CDH. This is an ongoing process, which has engendered a great deal of debate.
For more information about the Department of Health's position click on the link:
http://www.screening.nhs.uk/childhealth/index.htm

2008 Update

New standards have been published on the physical examination of the newborn and 6 - 8 week old baby.

From the website: http://newbornandinfantphysicalexam.screening.nhs.uk/

"After a baby is born an initial physical examination is carried out.  Parents are then offered a more detailed physical examination, carried out within 72 hours of birth, to detect conditions that may need early treatment.  The physical examinations form part of the Child Health Promotion Programme in the National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity (Department of Health, 2004; Department of Health 2007), and are included in the NICE clinical guidelines for the NHS: Routine postnatal care of women and their babies (NICE 2006).  Until now, however, there has been no national guidance on the standards and competencies necessary to deliver a good service.

National standards based on best practice, and designed to ensure consistency in the timeliness of the physical examination being carried out, have now been launched by the UK National Screening Committee (Newborn and Infant Physical Examination - Standards and Competencies, March 2008).  The standards, linked to core competencies, will ensure there is consistency, across the country, in the timeliness and manner of the delivery of the newborn physical examination. Standards for the routine examination at 6-8 weeks are under development and the National Screening Committee continues to liaise with health professionals, and their representatives bodies, to pursue this work.

This website addresses the pathways, standards and competencies for the components of the examination; the overall physical examination and the examination of the hips, eyes, testes and heart.  The website has been designed as an information resource to aid health professionals who carry out the examination and those in training as well as service providers and commissioners."

For information on Baby Hip Health Week 2009 and our current campaign  click HERE