TY - JOUR T1 - Working with vulnerable families in deprived areas JF - British Journal of General Practice JO - Br J Gen Pract SP - 298 LP - 298 DO - 10.3399/bjgp11X567306 VL - 61 IS - 585 AU - Graham Watt Y1 - 2011/04/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/61/585/298.abstract N2 - Working with vulnerable families is an everyday aspect of general practice in severely deprived areas. Through many types of contact, practice teams acquire substantial knowledge about the most vulnerable families in their registered populations. Their frustration is not being able to help more effectively at an early stage.Key issues are how this knowledge is acquired, how it should be used and how to link with other professions and services. Several recent NHS developments have undermined the knowledge that practice teams acquire. For example, the withdrawal of child surveillance in deprived areas is considered a mistake, given the high yield of health and social problems. Burnout and loss of staff due to excessive caseloads removes from practices the knowledge, experience, and relationships that colleagues have developed over many years.Pregnancy is an important opportunity to demonstrate how professions and services can work together. No one argues that midwives are best placed to lead on matters directly concerned with … ER -