A cleft lip is a gap in the upper lip on either one side (unilateral) or both sides (bilateral). It can vary from a slight notch (an incomplete cleft lip) to a longer gap extending up towards and into the nostril (a complete cleft lip).

The palate forms the roof of the mouth and normally separates the mouth from the nose. A cleft palate is a gap in the roof of the mouth. This gap may involve the soft palate at the back of the mouth or extend further forward into the bony, hard palate.

One in every 600 to 700 children is born with a cleft lip and/or palate. Services for these children are provided through the North West, Isle of Man and North Wales Cleft Lip and Palate Network.

Across the Network, approximately 150 children each year are born with a cleft lip and/or palate and, at any given point in time, ongoing treatment is provided for around 3000 children and adults.

The Network also sees patients without a cleft but with similar speech difficulties. These referrals are often made by Speech and Language Therapists working in the community.