Unregistered child, home birth, no medical intervention

[LudoBear]

Just Monday morning ponderings.

I wonder how many children/adults out there have been born at home, no medical intervention throughout pregnancy, baby never registered, home schooled, never went to doctors etc. I wonder how long it would be possible to go without a child ever being legally known anywhere

The NHS treats at the point of contact. We don't need an NHS number as we treat people who have travelled into this country from abroad. It a PITA, but we still treat and try to recuperate monies from their country of origin...probably unsuccessfully!

@Crikeycroc

I was removed from school twice to be homeschooled (1990’s, 2000’s). No one ever checked up on us despite being registered with the GP, receiving child benefit etc. It’s easy to see how abuse of a child could be concealed in this way.

My surname was changed by deed poll to match my mums married name when she married my stepfather. No consent from my father (who was listed on the birth certificate) so I’m not sure it was actually legal. But all my ID including my passport are in the new name. If I ever lost the deed poll document I would be in trouble though. I have nothing else to prove the link between the birth certificate and all my other ID.

That's interesting you were able to change your surname without your dads permission. I had to wait until I was 16 (2003) to be able to change my surname to my mums maiden name, without my dads permission. This is the dad who walked out when I was 3 and hasn't been seen since, yet couldn't change my surname without his permission.

@viques

I think there are probably a surprising number of people in the country who are undocumented, having been trafficked in or entered illegally. I always remember the little boy whose torso was found in the Thames some years ago. No one claimed him, I think they worked out from his blood type and bone dna that he came from West Africa but that was it.

There is a book written about it. They do believe that they have identified the boy. Very sad case.

[quote AspergersMum]@IdrisElbow that case wasn't as straightforward as that tho. That boy was known as someone the mum worked with (I think) had reported it but the council didn't see him. from bbc "Although the family lived in Pembrokeshire, Mrs Seabridge worked in neighbouring Ceredigion before her work was terminated.

During employment tribunal proceedings, a lawyer and a head teacher contacted social services after they became aware Mrs Seabridge suffered from mental ill health and her child was home educated.

Education officials visited the Seabridges but they had no power to see Dylan."

Then they say he was invisible, under the radar but they confused child welfare with education and decided they "couldn't" see him.[/quote]
I remember that story although I had misremembered and thought it was scurvy he died from. Absolutely tragic.

I understand the appeal of being totally off grid but I wouldn't want it for myself . If would raise a lot of questions and official involvement if for example a child fell and broke their arm and needed hospital treatment.

@IdrisElbow It's even worse if he was known to social services then. yes it is, I don’t know what ss could do differently but it’s incredibly rare for such children not to be known.