LIVING IN FEAR OF STATE INTERFERENCE

MILLIONS of parents are reluctant to take their injured children to the doctor for fear they could face aggressive questioning by social workers.

A survey found one in four parents is worried about taking their son or daughter to either A&E or their GP after an accidental injury.

The ComRes study also shows there is massive public concern about Scottish Government plans to appoint a named person for every child in Scotland.

Those opposed to the scheme, currently facing a legal challenge at the Supreme Court, are worried it could lead to unwarranted investigations into family life.

Colin Hart, director of The Christian Institute, which commissioned the survey, said the results were ‘shocking’. He pointed to the case of Ashya King as evidence that ordinary parents were facing ‘draconian’ and unjustified state interference.

In August 2014, the parents of five-year-old Ashya, who had a brain tumour, took him out of the Southampton hospital where he was being treated and fled to Spain. They wanted to take him to Prague for an experimental treatment

They were arrested in Spain under a European Arrest Warrant but released after a public outcry.

The ComRes study found 2 per cent of the 2,000 parents surveyed feared a trip to the GP or A&E could lead to an ‘unwarranted investigation’ by child protection staff.

Mr Hart said: ‘The government and social services are seen as interfering and too quick to launch aggressive and unwarranted investigations. No wonder parents are living in fear.’