Child Protection Medicals
Female Genital Mutilation / Cutting (FGM/C)
The purpose of this assessment is to make sure your child is safe and gets the right support.
Information for children, young people, parents and carers
If you are a child or young person visiting our service, this page explains what will happen at the clinic.
If you are a parent or carer of a girl who is visiting our service, you can use this page to explain what will happen at the clinic.
The clinic
Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust run a monthly clinic to see children under the age of 18 years who have been or might have been subjected to FGM/C.
We offer sensitive care for affected children and young people.
We will arrange for an interpreter, where required, to support your assessment.
| NSPCC |  |
| Birmingham Safeguarding Children Partnership |  |
The assessment
Your appointment will be with a doctor who has special knowledge of FGM/C. The assessment will decide whether FGM/C has taken place and whether you have any health needs.
The doctor will talk with you about your health, wellbeing and development, as well as home and family. They will offer a general health check, for example check your height and weight, listening to your chest and examining your tummy and skin. The doctor may check your blood pressure and may check wee and blood samples.
You can then choose to have a more detailed check-up of the outer area of your private parts (vulva or genital area).
If you choose to have this more detailed check-up, the doctor will ask you to allow them to examine the outer part of your private parts (vulva or genital area). This usually means we will ask you to take off clothes from the lower part of your body. We will ask you to lie on a bed and we will give you a sheet to cover yourself before the detailed check-up.
A camera is used to look at your private parts (vulva or genital area). This shines bright light on the skin and can also magnify any scars or other findings.
No equipment will go inside your body.
The doctor will never do any part of the examination against your wishes and will stop at any point if you want them to.
There will be chance for you and any family members to speak to the doctor alone.
You can choose who will be with you during any part of the check-up.
After the assessment
The doctor will explain what they have seen during the assessment and they may refer you to people who can provide you with follow-up support for any health or wellbeing needs.
The doctor will send you a clinic letter and your GP will receive a copy.
We will send a report to a social worker and to the police if they have been involved.
Further information
| DORCAS |  |
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If someone is in immediate danger, call Police on 999 straight away.
- Police: 999 or 101
- Childline: 0800 11 11
Contacts
Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust Admin: 0121 424 3688
Waterfall House (Oasis Suite)
Birmingham Children’s Hospital (BCH)
Whittal Street Entrance
Birmingham
B4 6NH
Switchboard: 0121 333 9999
How to find us
Waterfall House (Oasis Suite)
Birmingham Children’s Hospital (BCH)
Whittal Street Entrance
Birmingham
B4 6NH
The entrance to Waterfall House is situated on Whittall Street, opposite the Royal Angus car park. If you use the Royal Angus or B4 car parks, it is possible to gain a reduction in the charge by asking the staff at Waterfall House to validate your parking.
Visitors can use postcode B4 6DH for GPS navigation.