For families
Lorraine's message
Lorraine Wheel is the mother of Rosie, who has cerebral palsy. Lorraine is part of the HIPPO study team, helping to make sure this research is designed with families — not just for them...
Your questions answered
Families have told us that when something involves their child's health data, they want clear answers. Here are the questions families ask us most often.
In the development of ‘the app’ used in HIPPO study, we use routine hip X-rays that have already been taken as part of NHS care. We are not asking any child to have extra X-rays or tests. Before we use any images, all identifying information is removed — no one in the study can tell whose X-ray they are looking at.
Because the images are fully anonymous by the time we use them, we do not need specific consent from families. This follows standard NHS rules for anonymised data. If you would prefer your child's images not to be included, please contact us and we will arrange this.
The app will analyse hip X-rays automatically and pass the results to a clinician. The clinician checks every result. It will not make clinical decisions on its own. If the software is shown to work well, it is hoped that it will eventually be used across the NHS to make hip monitoring more consistent for every child with CP.
The study uses existing, anonymous X-rays, so there is no direct benefit to individual children taking part. But the goal is to improve hip care for all children with CP in the future — catching problems earlier, reducing errors, and potentially reducing the need for major surgery.
Yes — families and children with lived experience of CP are central to this study. We would love to hear from you. Please get in touch using the contact details below.
Get involved
You do not need any research experience to get involved - just a willingness to share what matters to you as a family. Your experience of living with CP is exactly the kind of knowledge that shapes better research.
Children with CP are choosing the name, designing the logo, and working with an animator to create a video about the project. Families are reviewing materials, attending meetings, and making sure the study works for people like them — not just for researchers.
Action Cerebral Palsy (actioncp.org) is our charity partner and can connect you with the wider CP community.