Written question asked by John McDonnell (Labour) on Monday, 22 May 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 24 May 2006. It was answered by Ivan Lewis (Labour) on Wednesday, 7 June 2006 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Plagiocephaly

Question: (2) how many children have been treated for plagiocephaly on the NHS with the STARband helmet in the last 12 months;

Answer: Departmental Ministers have received 19 letters from Members of Parliament, nine letters and five emails from members of the public, and a large petition about plagiocephaly in the past 12 months. It is for doctors working in national health service trusts to decide how and whether to treat children with positional plagiocephaly. We do not collect information centrally on how they do so. Health visitors and general practitioners are trained to recognise deformities in babies, including plagiocephaly. We have not tried to raise awareness of parents about plagiocephaly but the advice we give in ““Birth to Five”” which is available on the Department’s website at:"www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/PublicationsPolicyAnd GuidanceArticle/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4111315&chk=pk7ls0"This suggests that babies should experience a range of positions. If followed, this advice would not only help prevent plagiocephaly, but also enhance a child’s development. We do not collect statistics on the incidence of plagiocephaly centrally.

Secondary information