New £9m child protection system intended to help medical staff spot abuse and avoid cases such as that of Baby Peter.
Every child who visits hospital accident and emergency departments or has out-of-hours GP consultations will be logged in a national database from 2015.
The child protection information system is designed to help doctors and nurses spot children who are suffering from abuse or neglect and avoid cases such as that of Baby Peter, said health services minister Dan Poulter.
Medical staff will be able to see if the children they treat are subject to a child protection plan, meaning they have already been identified as being at risk.
Doctors and nurses will also be able to check if a child has been a frequent visitor to A&E over a period of time – an indication of abuse or neglect.
Poulter said: "Doctors and nurses are often the first people to see children who are victims of abuse.
