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Data gathered on children from birth

A woman is holding a personal child health record, sometimes known as the red book. It's open at a page that lists, the child family  and birth details and local and information sources.The famous ‘red book’, or personal child health record, is probably the first interaction we have with our personal information being recorded and shared – and sensitive health information at that. 

The book is given to all parents around the time their baby is born, and used to record certain details such as weight, height and vaccinations. Parents are encouraged to take the books every time they visit a GP or baby clinic and fill out the book themselves with developmental milestones or any accidents or illnesses.

Child health records are now being digitised in a move to create a more modern and accessible service. This gives families greater access to their children’s information - and removes the stress of locating a book that’s most likely at the bottom of a drawer!

A new mother told the BBC that she breathed a “sigh of relief” when she found out the ‘red book’ was moving online. "As a mother, going out of the house you pack your entire life with you. But remembering that red book that's in the back of the cupboard?" she said. "It seems ridiculous."

The Department of Health and Social Care say digitising the records will ensure information is easier to store, will protect it from being lost, and make it easier to share with medical staff.