Thursday, 13th December 2012
Commenting on the Royal College of Surgeons report on Cleft Lip and/or Palate, Mervi Jokinen, Practice & Standards Development Advisor at the Royal College of Midwives, said: “This is an important clinical issue that health professionals caring for newborn babies should be aware of.
“Though cleft lip and palate are often picked up via antenatal screening programmes and cleft lip can easily be recognised at birth, the other externally less visible forms of cleft palate can be missed without a thorough examination and, the correct technique when undertaking a physical examination of a newborn baby.
“The RCS report reflects the advice given in our own learning resource on the examination of the newborn. We advise that a full examination – including an examination for cleft lip or palate - is undertaken within 72 hours of the birth, as the current national screening standard states.”
For further information please contact the RCM Press Office on 020 7312 3456, pressofficer@rcm.org.uk.
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Notes to editors
The Royal College of Midwives is the voice of midwifery. We are the UK’s only trade union and professional organisation led by midwives for midwives. The vast majority of the midwifery profession are our members. The RCM promotes midwifery, quality maternity services and professional standards. We support and represent our members individually and collectively in all four UK countries. We influence on behalf of our members and for the interests of the women and families for which they care.
