Section 2: Minimum standards applicable to infant consultations.

The general organisation, staff, equipment and all the services of an infant clinic must be adapted to the number of children who can normally be examined in the course of a single session.

All premises must have an impermeable floor or a floor coated with substances that allow frequent washing. Walls and partitions must be coated with washable paint. The premises must be cleaned and aired after each consultation. The premises must be thoroughly washed at least once every fortnight. After the visit of a child suffering from a contagious disease, the premises must be disinfected.

Ventilation must be permanent and designed so that it can operate in all seasons without causing discomfort. The minimum temperature of the premises must never be lower than 18°C.

The establishment must have drinking water. Waste water must be disposed of in accordance with hygiene regulations. A sufficient number of toilets and washrooms must be ventilated.

To combat the risk of fire, the consultation must have : 1° Water stations ; 2° Sufficient fire extinguishers; 3° a rapid call system to the nearest fire station. The construction and layout of the premises must allow for rapid evacuation in the event of a fire.

Each infant clinic must have at least: 1° A medical office with all the equipment necessary for examining children; 2° A pharmacy with lockable cupboards for toxic substances; 3° A spacious, well-ventilated waiting room, opening directly onto a weighing room, with a sufficient number of seats. Each mother is provided with a basket in which to place her child’s clothes when undressing before going into the weighing room. An office…

The technical operation of the antenatal consultation is the responsibility of a doctor.

Doctors assigned to infant consultations must be approved by the doctor in charge of the departmental maternal and child protection service. These doctors must have special knowledge of paediatrics and must never have been the subject of professional sanctions. The approved doctor will carry out the consultation in person and, except in the case of annual leave or illness, may only be replaced in exceptional circumstances; the replacement must always…

All infant clinics must be staffed by at least one nursery nurse, nurse or midwife, who may be assisted by one or more nurses, nursery nurses or midwives. Within the limits of the laws and regulations in force, trainee nurses or midwives may be authorised. Nurses and midwives must have no financial relationship with the consultants.

Social services are provided by a social worker. If the size of the consultation does not justify the participation of a full-time social worker, the social service may be provided by a social worker delegated by a social service organisation.