Formal networks 'would improve healthcare response to child abuse'

Speaking at the annual Safeguarding London’s Children Conference, sponsored by CYP Now, Dr Sheila Shribman, national clinical director for children, young people and maternity at the DoH, claimed such networks could vastly improve the health service response to serious abuse cases.

"Formal arrangements are hugely important," she told delegates. "We believe that people need to work in networks to gain expertise from others. That’s a very important part of professional support and very important particularly for child sexual abuse."

These networks would also help overcome problems with the current shortage of specialists qualified to advise on child abuse cases.

"We have problems with a lack of paediatric forensic specialists who are available particularly for expert witness work," she explained. "This is a patchy problem around the country. We don’t want to be reliant on goodwill. We want formal arrangements for this and delays in examinations of children and not getting forensics right are a problem we’re continuing to work on."