The survey questioned 61 parents who do not live with their children. Of these, 84 per cent felt they were not kept up-to-date on their child's illnesses by medical staff. The 16 per cent who were up-to-date felt they had to fight to stay involved.
One parent told the charity: "No doctor ever agreed to speak to me about my children, even when abuse by their alcoholic mother was evident."
FNF said there was a lack of awareness among many medical and dental services on the equal status of parental responsibility and the need to keep both parents informed.
John Baker, FNF's chair, said it was an unacceptable situation: "FNF calls for wider recognition that both parents must be kept in the picture in all aspects of their children's lives as a matter of urgency, or it is the children who will suffer."
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