General practitioners (GPs) and other members of the Primary Health Care Team (PHCT) play a crucial role in the provision of health care for children. At least 25% of GP consultations are with children, and many of the problems encountered are specific to this population group. However, children do not represent a homogeneous population and several ages of childhood are recognised, each with its unique set of illnesses and problems: the neonate, infant, pre-school child, school age child and the adolescent. Furthermore, both the childhood population and their illnesses change with time; new illnesses such as HIV have appeared and others, not seen for many years (such as rickets, tuberculosis and congenital rubella syndrome) have returned. Thus a comprehensive knowledge of the varied aspects of child health is needed; recognition of the acutely ill child, developmental surveillance, immunisation, treatment of chronic illness, and psycho-social issues. GPs are also increasingly involved in influencing configuration and the commissioning of services at a local level. This textbook provides practical guidance for GPs, GP registrars, practice nurses and health visitors dealing with child health in the 21st century. It undertakes a focused, problem-orientated approach based on the more common childhood problems encountered by GPs. Each chapter includes the essential background theory, but the emphasis is on making the clinical approach relevant and sensitive to primary care. Solutions to clinical scenarios are provided, based upon current, best available evidence. Site and system specific chapters are combined with sections looking at wider issues such as ethics and law, multicultural issues, and immunisation.

This book deals with child abuse and neglect as it presents itself in primary care. All health professionals, including those who work in primary care, have an important role to play in the child protection process. Inappropriate management of suspected instances of child abuse may result in serious implications for the child, family and involved professionals. Primary health care teams have specific and unmet training needs in this area and many general practitioners express anxiety regarding their involvement in child protection work. The overall aim of this book is to enable members of the primary health care team to fulfil their responsibilities in the protection of children from the threat of abuse or neglect. Readers are made aware of the skills required both to protect children and to subsequently maintain relationships with families. The contents have been extended to include child protection issues in our multi-cultural society along with comparison of different systems across Europe. The book is primarily aimed at GPs and their teams; social workers and health care managers will also benefit from its unique treatment of child protection issues in a primary care setting.

'This book addresses these issues with sagacity and imagination. The reader (all primary care team members would benefit from it) is offered facts, skills, attitudes and insights to help in this difficult area. We can all do child protection better - let us use this book to achieve that aim.'

From the foreword by Professor Michael Pringle, Immediate Past Chairman, Council of Royal College of General Practitioners