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Guidance

Newborn and infant physical examination: programme handbook

This document brings together all the guidelines that relate to the NHS newborn and infant physical examination (NIPE) screening programme.

Updates to this page

From:
NHS England
Published:
4 April 2016
Last updated:
10 October 2025
Show all updates

  1. Amended various formatting issues, including formatting of links.

  2. Added additional risk factor under section 12.4 in the handbook.

  3. Updated flowchart for the management of undescended testes to align with updates to the guidance made in March 2024.

  4. Amended formatting in section 13.10 of the programme handbook.

  5. Minor amend in the programme handbook (section 14.9) clarifying that standard S04 was made a KPI in April 2024.

  6. Made some minor wording changes to the programme handbook.

  7. In the NIPE newborn testes screening: screen positive pathway document, changed 'undecided testes' to 'undescended testes'

  8. Added clarification that publication was previously published by Public Health England.

  9. 1. A full review of the heart screening guidance. During 2022 an expert working group came together to review the current clinical guidance – this included, a number of discussions and meetings, including an external consultation and in 2023 consensus was agreed and the guidance updated. 2. Through 21-2022(delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic)-23 the testes clinical guidance and standards were reviewed, again by an expert working group and a limited consultation. The testes standard changes have been signed off at ANNB PB previously, as a stand-alone item and have been through the data working and screening data steering group and approved. 3. The education and training section has been updated to be inline with the NMC standards for education and updated information included which has been supported by colleagues in NHSE nursing/midwifery directorate and health education England. 4. A SMaRT4NIPE IT section has been included due to feedback from practitioners. 5. The handbook changes have been approved by the patient equalities team, following completion of the equality and health inequalities impact assessment.

  10. Added new and updated guidance on ‘too young for NIPE newborn screening’, NIPE hip standards (implemented across England on 1 April 2021), NIPE screening screen positive outcomes, management of breech presentation and NIPE practitioner education and training.

  11. Updated programme handbook including training requirements, what to do when screening is declined and clarified terminology. Screening pathways content moved from PDF to HTML to improve accessibility.

  12. Updated NIPE programme handbook.

  13. Updated pathway appendices in accessible PDF formats.

  14. Minor correction to neonatal hip risk factors under Standard 4.

  15. Handbook updated and put into HTML format.

  16. First published.

Applies to England and Wales

Documents

Newborn and infant physical examination (NIPE) screening programme handbook

HTML

Newborn and infant physical examination (NIPE) newborn screening pathway

HTML

Newborn and infant physical examination (NIPE) infant screening pathway

HTML

NIPE newborn eye screening: screen positive pathway

HTML

NIPE newborn heart screening: screen positive pathway

HTML

NIPE newborn hip screening: screen positive pathway

HTML

NIPE newborn testes screening: screen positive pathway

HTML

Details

The purpose of this handbook is to inform and support best clinical practice in the NHS newborn and infant physical examination (NIPE) screening programme.

This handbook offers guidance on the physical examination for newborns, infants, and babies in neonatal units. It refers to the 4 NIPE screening elements:

  • eyes
  • heart
  • hips
  • testes

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