Child Protection Medicals
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
The purpose of this assessment is to make sure your child is safe and gets the right support.
Information for parents and carers
If you are a child or young person visiting our service, this guide explains what to expect at the clinic.
If you are a parent or carer of a girl who is visiting our service, you can use this guide to explain what to expect 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 are suspected to 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 specialises in the assessment of FGM/C. The assessment will determine 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 measuring your height and weight, listening to your chest and examining your abdomen and skin. The doctor may check your blood pressure and may check urine and blood samples.
You can then choose to have a more focussed check-up of the outer area of your private parts (vulva or genital area).
If you choose to have this more focussed check-up, the doctor will ask your permission to examine the outer part of your private parts (vulva or genital area). This will usually involve you being asked to remove clothes from the lower part of your body. You will be asked to lie on a bed and will be given a sheet to cover yourself before the focussed 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 an opportunity 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.
A report will be sent 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
The entrance to Waterfall House is situated on Whittall Street, opposite the Royal Angus car park. Visitors can use postcode B4 6DH for GPS navigation.