<p style="font-weight: 400;"> Action Cerebral Palsy has just launched a campaign  to raise awareness of the early warning signs of cerebral palsy.</p>
Why?
<p style="font-weight: 400;">The   first APPG on CP sessions and report on Early Identification and Intervention  highlighted the delays in identifying children with signs of CP.  That initial report on Early Identification, Intervention and Pathways of Care of Infants and Children with Cerebral Palsy in March 2021 sited that “cerebral palsy is the most common physical disability in childhood. Despite this, there are often unnecessary delays in the early identification and referral of infants, which, in turn, prevents effective early intervention treatments taking place at the time when they can be the most impactful. A key reason for this is a lack of awareness of the early presenting features of cerebral palsy amongst primary healthcare professionals, as well as the general public."  </p>
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<p style="font-weight: 400;">The Action Cerebral Palsy campaign - If In Doubt, Check It Out - aims to address this by helping new parents, in very simple terms, to understand about typical motor development for children and milestones for each age and stage from birth to 3 years, as well as the signs of concern and what action is recommended for parents to take if any of these warning signs are present. Thee hope to equip parents with the knowledge and confidence to speak to their GP or Health Visitor if they have any concerns.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Please see the  information in the attached campaign poster and watch out for Facebook and Twitter posts so that we can help give more very young children an opportunity to access vital care and intervention at a critical point in their lives.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">The poster has been developed by  leading healthcare professionals, clinicians, therapists and parents (many of whom also contributed to the APPG sessions)and the poster and parent information leaflet have both received the accreditation of the Institute of Health Visiting.   For more information, please see: www.actioncp.org/signs.</p>