Health

The Bairns’ Hoose standards position children’s right to access health and wellbeing support (standard eight). The commitment to children is that their physical, emotional and mental health is looked after, that someone helps them to plan appointments and gives them support to attend as required. This standard upholds UNCRC Article 24.

There is a dedicated “health suite” within the Bairns Hoose which provides a space and meets the specification for physical health checks. Work is underway to test a senior nurse practitioner role to set up, coordinate and deliver routine follow up post-interview, aiming to facilitate children’s access to and engagement with checks and support with physical health issues. The outcome and learning from this test of change combined with learning from other Bairns’ Hoose pathfinder areas, will help shape the future health provision going forward.

In line with the Bairns’ Hoose standards for Scotland, Children First's aspiration is that, in time: 

  • Children who report historic sexual abuse will be offered medical assessments in the Bairns Hoose, to offer reassurance and guidance as well as provide an opportunity to capture any existing health needs.
  • All children and young people who have a Joint Investigative Interview will be routinely offered a health assessment of their physical and emotional wellbeing. This is consistent with other European Barnahus and appropriate given that some children and young people attending Bairns Hoose will be subject to concerns about physical abuse, assault, emotional abuse and/or neglect.

 

Image of the health room at Bairns Hoose

Current process for medical examinations for children in North Strathclyde

In North Strathclyde children aged up to 12 years and subject to child protection investigation, are examined by a paediatrician at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, including those who allege a rape, sexual assault, abuse, familiar or non-familial abuse, within the previous seven days. It is the preference of the paediatrician that a child has already had their Joint Investigative Interview (so that they know what the child is saying has happened to them). In practice currently for this age group the medical examination usually happens after the Joint Investigative Interview.

Young people aged 13 years and over who allege a rape, sexual assault, abuse, familial or non-familial, within the previous seven days, who require a medical examination, have this at Archway, West of Scotland Rape and Sexual Assault Service. In practice currently for this age group, where there is a forensic window after the Joint Investigative Interview (within seven days), the medical examination usually happens before the Joint Investigative Interview in order to maximise DNA capture.