Edinburgh GP are pleased to welcome an exciting new clinician to the team. Doctor Nisha Narayanan is the first and only private paediatrician in Lothian and we are delighted to bring her unique and valuable specialism to our younger patients and their families in Edinburgh and beyond.
In this article, Doctor Narayanan discusses the importance of ‘Well Child’ Health Checks.
‘Well Child’ Health Checks may be a new concept in the UK, but in many countries, these checks are conducted by highly trained paediatrician’s, starting at birth and continuing at frequent intervals (at a minimum annually) until adulthood.
They allow parents to ensure that their children are growing and developing well, have the optimal vaccines, are screened for common infant, childhood, and young adult ailments, and are counselled on the prevention of disease. This optimises each child’s physical, mental, and social health, resulting in improved health outcomes. It ensures that parents and children not only survive but thrive. The scientific evidence in favour of Well Child visits is overwhelming – the best medicine is always prevention.
Disease prevention and early detection
Regular exams allow well-trained paediatricians to pick up genetic disease, heart disease, malignancies, immunodeficiencies, neuromuscular disease, metabolic disease (including type 2 diabetes and obesity), and other childhood conditions early. Babies can be screened for common childhood ailments like vitamin D deficiency, anaemia, depression bullying and anxiety. Minor abnormalities or illnesses can be detected and addressed before they become larger problems with disastrous consequences.
Tracking growth and development
Well Child Health Checks allow doctors to track your child’s physical and developmental progress, identifying any potential delays or concerns which can then be addressed early and can result in better long-term outcomes. You can discuss your child’s milestones, social behaviour(s) and learning with your paediatrician.
Anticipatory guidance and support
With each age, new concerns arise for parents. Sleep, eating, discipline, toilet training, and getting along with other family members are only some of the topics that can come up. The most up-to-date, evidence-based recommendations are difficult to find among the thousands of opinions on the Internet and in books. At each Well Child Health Check, parents receive data-based anticipatory guidance about child safety, injury prevention and best practices in parenting for their child’s developmental stage. Adolescents can be counseled on nutrition, exercise, preventing recreational drug use, and safe sex. You and your child can also make a list of topics that you want to talk about with the paediatrician and bring them with you to your visit. Ultimately, each child is different, and tailored, flexible plans and discussions between parent and physician are always the best option for your child.
Team approach
Children don’t come with a manual, and you should never feel alone when raising your child. Well Child Health Checks allow paediatricians to act as a parent’s partner and resource, and each child’s advocate as they grow. Paediatricians can help parents make medical and parenting decisions, can help parents obtain second opinions for medical conditions, and can help coordinate medical and behavioural care together to serve the needs of children. Regular Well Child Health Checks create strong, trustworthy relationships between paediatrician, parent and child. This can also be beneficial for future health concerns.
Improved health outcomes
Attendance at Well Child Health Checks has been linked in numerous studies to reduced hospitalisations and emergency room visits.
Why this is so important
I have seen thousands of children in the emergency rooms whose serious medical and psychiatric problems were caught early because they had astute paediatricians who were monitoring them closely. Upon moving to Scotland, I immediately noticed that there is a lack of preventative care in paediatrics and a much more hands-off approach to paediatric health, despite the enlightened Health Visitor service.
Likewise, healthy children are screened and treated most often by generalists who may not have trained for years specifically in paediatrics. When my daughter was hospitalised in Edinburgh, I missed having an advocate to help me coordinate her care and obtain second opinions. I believe my daughter and other children like her deserve high-quality, personalised healthcare and an advocate to help them grow and develop to their highest potential.