A F Colver1. 1. Beaconhill Children's Centre, Cramlington, Northumberland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To monitor the implementation of a programme of health surveillance for preschool children and measure its effect on child health. DESIGN: Regular reporting to primary care teams of their own performance, and determining the overall effect of the programme on children in the district. SETTING: All practices in Northumberland health district. SUBJECTS: All children of preschool age in Northumberland (3600 births each year). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Proportion of eligible children immunised and screened for abnormalities. Age at diagnosis of congenital deafness, cerebral palsy, and special educational needs. RESULTS: Over 90% of eligible children were covered by the health surveillance scheme. Child health improved over the four years after the scheme was implemented. Uptake of immunisation against measles rose from 68% to 93% of eligible children, and the average age at which congenital deafness was diagnosed fell to 9 months. CONCLUSIONS: Maintaining the effectiveness of a surveillance programme and reporting this back to primary health care teams are processes which themselves improve health.
OBJECTIVES: To monitor the implementation of a programme of health surveillance for preschool children and measure its effect on child health. DESIGN: Regular reporting to primary care teams of their own performance, and determining the overall effect of the programme on children in the district. SETTING: All practices in Northumberland health district. SUBJECTS: All children of preschool age in Northumberland (3600 births each year). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Proportion of eligible children immunised and screened for abnormalities. Age at diagnosis of congenital deafness, cerebral palsy, and special educational needs. RESULTS: Over 90% of eligible children were covered by the health surveillance scheme. Child health improved over the four years after the scheme was implemented. Uptake of immunisation against measles rose from 68% to 93% of eligible children, and the average age at which congenital deafness was diagnosed fell to 9 months. CONCLUSIONS: Maintaining the effectiveness of a surveillance programme and reporting this back to primary health care teams are processes which themselves improve health.
Authors: Grethe Søndergaard; Sofie Biering-Sørensen; Susan Ishøy Michelsen; Ole Schnor; Anne-Marie Nybo Andersen Journal: Scand J Prim Health Care Date: 2008 Impact factor: 2.581