13.02.2015

Cerebral Palsy Must Be Detected And Treated Much Earlier, Inquiry Claims

An inquiry into support for children with cerebral palsy has called for earlier diagnosis and a faster access to physiotherapy if they are to achieve their full potential in life.

The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) inquiry, prompted by the Action Cerebral Palsy charity group, has identified a number of policy changes that could improve support and opportunities for the 30,000 children with cerebral palsy in the UK.

The key recommendation was for improved training for practitioners working with children with cerebral palsy. This would allow specific needs, such as physiotherapy, to be identified early.

Elizabeth Gray, paediatric physiotherapist and Chair of the Association of Paediatric Chartered Physiotherapists (APCP) said of the findings: "Early intervention improves outcomes and paediatric physiotherapists are ideally placed to support a child's development from birth onwards.

"Paediatric physiotherapy cannot and does not cure cerebral palsy but it certainly has the most important role in improving individual outcomes."

Expert Opinion

It is essential that the health sector is able to ensure sufficient staff and training to identify specific needs from an early age and to allow access to key treatments and therapies in order to give children the best possible chance of overcoming limitations which will potentially have a significant effect on them for the rest of their life. <br/> <br/>“Intervention at an early age is vital to limiting the effects of conditions such as cerebral palsy.” <br/> Tom Mather - Partner