Written question asked by Stephen O'Brien (Conservative) on Wednesday, 18 October 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 20 October 2006. It was answered by Ivan Lewis (Labour) on Tuesday, 7 November 2006 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Kernicterus

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action her Department has taken in response to recommendations made by the Chief Medical Officer on page 37 of his annual report 2005 for the prevention of Kernicterus.

Answer: The Department has considered the recommendations made by the chief medical officer on page 37 of his annual report 2005. In response, a review of screening for Kernicterus has been commissioned by the UK National Screening Committee (NSC). The review will assess the case for screening against the NSCs internationally recognised screening criteria. The Department will consider whether additional information should be added to its ‘Pregnancy Book’ when it is next revised.

Secondary information