The Newborn and Infant Physical Examination Screening Programme (NIPE) offers two early screening opportunities to all babies born in England and Wales for conditions relating to the:

• eyes
• heart
• hips
• testes (if applicable)

The first NIPE newborn screening examination should be completed within 72 hours of birth - usually carried out in the hospital or at home. The NIPE newborn screening examination is part of the broader systematic newborn examination and is typically performed at the same time. The second NIPE infant screening examination is offered at 6 to 8 weeks of age, usually in primary care/GP practice.

Scotland and Northern Ireland also perform newborn physical examinations - but may not always use the term NIPE - with their own guidelines, governance and delivery systems.

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