Contact a Family (UK) has published two new guides for GPs (general practitioners) to help increase their understanding of the specialist services that disabled children access and to make their practices more welcoming for them. 

Making GP Practices More Welcoming for Families with Disabled Children explores the potential consequences if children are seen in A&E rather than by their GP and explains why families of disabled children can find it difficult to visit a surgery. It also offers practical steps that practices can take to make it easier for disabled children to visit their GP such as: 

• Offering carers appointment times at the start of clinics when there is likely to be less of a wait
• Offering children with sensory overload the option of waiting in a quiet room if one is available or waiting in their car and being called on their mobile when the doctor is nearly ready to see them.
• Letting  families see the same GP for most visits, so the GP becomes familiar with the child's support needs

GP practice guide: supporting disabled children and young people aims to help GPs co-ordinate care for disabled children. It describes the roles of the wide range of health professionals who work with disabled children and the specialised services they access, some of the issues disabled children frequently present with, who can support them and patient information that GPs can provide to families. 

Both guides can be downloaded from Contact a Family's website  

Alternatively for a hardcopy email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

UK: The most wide-ranging survey of hate crime victims ever to be undertaken is being launched this month in Leicester by a specialist research team based at the Department of Criminology, University of Leicester.

The survey is part of the Leicester Hate Crime Project – a two year study, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, designed to examine the nature and impact of hate crime and victims' expectations of the criminal justice system and other local support agencies.

The survey is being administered to the widest range of victim groups ever covered by a single hate crime study. This includes people who have been victimised specifically because of their –

• race
• religion
• sexual orientation
• disability
• gender identity

- as well as those who belong to the kinds of more marginalised groups which are often overlooked within hate crime research and policy, such as –

• Gypsies and Travellers
• asylum seekers
• refugees
• the homeless
• those belonging to alternative subcultures

The findings will be published at the end of the research when it is anticipated that they will have a major impact upon hate crime victimisation policy and practice both locally and nationally.

Any questions about the research should be directed to Stevie-Jade Hardy, lead researcher at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

From the National Managed Clinical Network for Children with Exceptional Healthcare Needs (CEN) -

CEN and PAMIS workshops for professionals on Guardianship, Incapacity Law and Medical Treatment

When young people reach the age of 16 they are considered to be an adult. This means the rules on consent to medical treatment change. 

This workshop will cover some of the important issues and procedures involving guardianship, incapacity law and medical treatment of adult who are not able to make their own decision. 

The workshops will take place 1.30 pm-4.30 pm (with 1 pm registration) on the following dates: 

• 21 March - Aberdeen Childrens' Hospital
• 27 March - Perth Royal Infirmary
• 18 April - Glasgow city centre
• 25 April - Edinburgh city centre

The workshops are free but registration is required.

To book a place please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.