The NSPCC has launched advice to help doctors, social workers, police officers and other professionals recognise signs of inflicted head and spinal injuries in children.

Each week at least three babies and toddlers are hospitalised due to deliberate head injuries including bruises, burns, fractures of the skull and facial bones and brain injuries but others may remain hidden.

‘Head and spinal injuries in children’ is the fifth in the CORE-INFO series, produced by the NSPCC in partnership with the Department of Child Health, Cardiff University.  Previous leaflets covered thermal injuries, bites and oral injuries, bruising, and fractures.

The leaflet is available to download from the NSPCC website.