ARE WE ADEQUATELY ASSESSING AND RECORDING SAFEGUARDING CONCERNS FOR PAEDIATRIC PATIENTS SEEN IN THE ACCIDENT & EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT (A&E) OR ADMITTED BY ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY (OMFS)?
Authors:
Sindhu Meda1, Eoin Twohig2.
Affiliation:
1 Dental Core Trainee 2 in OMFS,
2 Consultant in OMFS
Doi: 10.54936/haoms242p36
ABSTRACT:
Background/Introduction: Safeguarding children is a core duty of all healthcare professionals. The A&E department in Worcestershire Royal Hospital have history sheets available containing a safeguarding proforma in a tick-box form, which should be completed and signed.
Aims & Objectives: To assess if we are adequately screening for and documenting safeguarding concerns in children presenting at A&E or being admitted by OMFS.
Methodology: National and local guidelines were reviewed to establish standards for documentation. A retrospective audit of all paediatric patients seen in A&E in 2020 was completed using an Excel data collection tool.
Results: The audit covered 226 patients under the age of 18 seen in A&E by OMFS and 38 patients admitted under OMFS in 2020. The majority of the safeguarding checklist tick boxes were not completed. Data showed good compliance with recording the social situation of the child. There was low compliance with documentation of other signs indicating non-accidental injury e.g. history inconsistent with injury, unexplained injuries and the behaviour of the child.
Discussion/Conclusions: The safeguarding proforma is quick and easy to complete while covering the necessary screening questions. Clinicians should consider non-accidental injury for all paediatric facial injuries presenting at A&E. Completing the proforma ensures there is evidence that the child has been properly assessed for safeguarding concerns. Any concerns should be discussed immediately with the on-call OMFS/Paediatric consultant.
KEY WORDS:
Authors:
Sindhu Meda1, Eoin Twohig2.
Affiliation:
1 Dental Core Trainee 2 in OMFS,
2 Consultant in OMFS
Doi: 10.54936/haoms242p36
ABSTRACT:
Background/Introduction: Safeguarding children is a core duty of all healthcare professionals. The A&E department in Worcestershire Royal Hospital have history sheets available containing a safeguarding proforma in a tick-box form, which should be completed and signed.
Aims & Objectives: To assess if we are adequately screening for and documenting safeguarding concerns in children presenting at A&E or being admitted by OMFS.
Methodology: National and local guidelines were reviewed to establish standards for documentation. A retrospective audit of all paediatric patients seen in A&E in 2020 was completed using an Excel data collection tool.
Results: The audit covered 226 patients under the age of 18 seen in A&E by OMFS and 38 patients admitted under OMFS in 2020. The majority of the safeguarding checklist tick boxes were not completed. Data showed good compliance with recording the social situation of the child. There was low compliance with documentation of other signs indicating non-accidental injury e.g. history inconsistent with injury, unexplained injuries and the behaviour of the child.
Discussion/Conclusions: The safeguarding proforma is quick and easy to complete while covering the necessary screening questions. Clinicians should consider non-accidental injury for all paediatric facial injuries presenting at A&E. Completing the proforma ensures there is evidence that the child has been properly assessed for safeguarding concerns. Any concerns should be discussed immediately with the on-call OMFS/Paediatric consultant.
KEY WORDS: