Child surveillance is a subject of increasing scientific social and political debate in many countries of the world. In the UK protocols for effective action are based on a government report 'Health for all children'. The research which gave rise to these protocols has been developed further in the Netherlands and drawing on the experience of other health care systems has produced conclusions which challenge some widely-accepted assumptions about appropriate procedures. This book reviews the international research and recommendations of the Dutch working party. It presents an authoritative and practical survey of the contents and frequency of child health surveillance programmes procedures for quality control and improvement possibilities for parental involvement and the levels of expertise necessary to run programmes effectively. It offers a clear vision of a more sophisticated approach to child health care and is therefore an important reference for community paediatricians and others involved in the development of primary care.