Click on the month to be taken directly to the statements and press releases for that month:

January February March April May June July August September October November December

January

Joint Statement by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, the Department of Health and Skills for Health - 5 January 2009

View joint statement

Letter to the Palestinian Paediatric Association

Below is the text of a letter sent by Dr Patricia Hamilton, President of RCPCH, to the President of the Palestinian Paediatric Association.

Dear Samir,

I am writing on behalf of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health to express our deep sympathy to you and your colleagues, especially those who are living and working in Gaza at this terrible time. We are aware of what you must all be suffering knowing that children are caught up so tragically in this dreadful conflict.

Your plight is sadly only too well known and features in our papers each day and it is so difficult to know what we can do. We can only hope for effective political interventions that result in some effective resolution.

In the meantime, your paediatric colleagues and friends in the UK are thinking of you.

With sincere regards,

Patricia

PRCPCH

In addition, members may want to see the statement by the International Pediatric Association on the Gaza conflict.

RCPCH Election announcement - Clinical Standards Officer and Assessment Officer - 19 January 2009

The College is pleased to announce the election of Dr Ian Maconochie as Clinical Standards Officer and Dr Andrew Long as Assessment Officer. They both take their posts with immediate effect.

RCPCH Election announcement - Vice President for Health Services - 20 January 2009

The College is pleased to announce the election of Dr David Shortland as Vice President for Health Services. Dr Shortland will serve for three years from April 2009.

For information about Health Services - click here

RCPCH call to boost paediatric workforce - 22 January 2009

The latest College workforce census has been published and shows there has been a modest growth rate of consultant paediatricians working in the UK between 2005 and 2007 meaning that the specialty of paediatrics remains hard-pressed.

To view the full RCPCH workforce press release - click here

To view the full RCPCH 2007 Workforce Census - click here

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February

RCPCH Statement - Government's Child Health Strategy - 12 February 2009

Dr Simon Lenton, Vice President, Health Services, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) said:

"The great thing about the strategy is that it comes with a significant amount of new money targeted around an area of genuine need. We would like to see some of this being spent on children with long-term conditions and complex needs, such as cerebral palsy.

"We will be delighted to play our part in making this strategy a reality. Paediatricians in the UK are at the forefront of working with children and young people with disabilities. We have always advocated working across boundaries for the good of children and we welcome the emphasis on a joined up approach."

To view the Child Health Strategy in full - click here

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March

RCPCH response to Lord Laming's report on children's services - 12 March 2009

Dr Rosalyn Proops, Child Protection Officer, RCPCH:

"The report by Lord Laming is a positive contribution to improving child protection processes, and in particular its emphasis on education and training.

"Child protection has long been one of our major concerns. We have already brought in a mandatory training programme in child protection for junior trainees in paediatrics, and will launch further training for senior trainees shortly. We are now developing child protection training for consultants and other senior doctors involved in this field, and plan to roll this out early next year.

"We have produced a range of guidance on related topics, including a major review of child sexual abuse and are also looking at how children who have been sexually abused should be supported. Additionally we are working with the Department of Health on Managed Clinical Networks for child protection, which will provide advice and support for clinicians. We are leading on the development of quality indicators for child protection which will be used in performance management.

"In all of this we are working with clinicians from other specialties, including anaesthetists, radiologists, dentists and surgeons, and with other health professionals. It is essential that we learn from tragedies of this sort. We shall study the report in detail and ensure that its findings are fed into our work, leading changes in child protection for clinicians."

To visit the RCPCH child protection page - click here

To view Lord Laming's report in full - click here

RCPCH response to Healthcare Commission report on NHS hospitals meeting the needs of children - 13 March 2009

Dr Mary McGraw, Vice President for Training and Assessment, RCPCH:

"We welcome this report by the Healthcare Commission providing further important and detailed work on the care of children. We are very concerned by the findings that although progress has been made in some areas, basic training in child protection, life support and managing pain still do not meet the guidance in a significant proportion of Trusts.

"It is essential that all those involved in the care of children are appropriately trained. We welcome the Commission's involvement with failing Trusts to ensure that plans for improvement are put in place."

Please note the Healthcare Commission is now the Care Quality Commission, to visit their website - click here

To find out more about training - click here

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April

New President for the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health - 02 April 2009

Professor Terence Stephenson has become the new President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH). He succeeds Dr Patricia Hamilton CBE, who has been in the post for three years.

Professor Stephenson is a leading figure in paediatrics and child health and his distinguished and diverse career has spanned 25 years. He is a practising consultant in General Paediatrics and Professor of Child Health in Nottingham. He previously held the positions of Dean of the Medical School, Nottingham University and Non-Executive Director on the Board of Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust.

He also held the position of Vice President for Science and Research at the RCPCH before he became President, leading the College's research work.

During his career Professor Stephenson has given evidence in court on child protection cases, co-authored textbooks on paediatrics and published many peer reviewed papers - on subjects such as safeguarding children, improving patient safety in paediatrics and sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI).

Professor Terence Stephenson said:

"My main aim for the next three years will be to make sure that children and young people in the UK are looked after by paediatricians who are the best trained and the best supported in the world.

"Though much progress has been made in child health over the past 10 years, significant challenges remain - such as rising levels of childhood obesity, falling immunisation rates and achieving a sustainable paediatric workforce."

Survey to support better care for children with diabetes

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) has found that almost 23,000 children and young people have diabetes in England - a figure higher than previous estimates.

The snapshot survey, 'Growing up with Diabetes: children and young people with diabetes in 2009' commissioned by the Department of Health, gives accurate numbers of children and young people under the age of 18 with diabetes of any type in England.

The report also shows that:

The majority of children and young people have Type 1 diabetes (97 per cent) - this is in contrast to adult populations where numbers of cases of Type 2 far exceed Type 1
A very small percentage of children and young people have Type 2 diabetes (1.5 percent) but prevalence of Type 2 is probably increasing in children as in adults
The greatest number of children and young people with diabetes are aged between 10-14 years (just under 9,000)
The burden of diabetes in school age children is high. There are at least 15,361 children (age 5-15) in schools in England with diabetes - this has significant implications for schools and families
There are differences in numbers of cases between Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs). The numbers with Type 1 are higher than would be expected in the North East and South East Coast SHA's. For Type 2 diabetes, numbers were much higher than average in London, the North East and the West Midlands.

To see the press release - click here

To see the report in full - click here

To find out more on the campaign, go to GMC News and GMC Licensing and Revalidation
For RCPCH Revalidation information - click here

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May

UK adopts new growth charts based on breast-fed babies - 6 May 2009

The new growth charts have been developed by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health for the Department of Health, based on the World Health Organisation's work.

For more information about the new growth charts - click here

For the press release - click here

Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health:

We are pleased the Care Quality Commission recognises the importance of safeguarding training and our training programmes.

Our current child protection training programmes include: 'Level 1: Recognition and Response in Child Protection' - identification and reporting for junior trainees in paediatrics - and 'Level 2: Child Protection in Practice' - diagnosis and management for experienced trainees - which is due to be launched shortly.

We have also received funding from the Department of Health to provide training for all senior paediatricians, including consultants, who will continue to come across child protection concerns in their daily work.

It is important that all paediatricians must also be competent in attending court and giving evidence. The RCPCH recognises this through our court skills course.

Providing training is vitally important, but we also need to ensure that staffing levels are appropriate. This is something that we are taking very seriously and we will continue to press the government on this.

To download to Care Quality Commission report - click here
For more information about child protection - click here

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), in conjunction with the Neonatal and Paediatric Pharmacists Group (NPPG) and national children's charity WellChild, has launched a new range of information leaflets for parents and carers.

To view the press release - click here

To download the leaflets - click here

RCPCH statement in response Dr David Southall appeal - 22 May 2009

Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health:

"We recognise that the judge has looked at this matter again and we are not in a position to comment on the details of the case.

"Dr David Southall is a highly respected paediatrician and academic with an excellent record of published peer reviewed work.

"Paediatricians deal with child protection cases every day around the country and it is important that the welfare of the child is paramount."

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June

Royal College of Physicians launches 'Women and medicine: the future' report - 03 June 2009

The report notes that already 40% of doctors are women and predicts that by 2013 women will make up the majority of GPs and by 2017 hospitals will be dominated by female doctors.

It also found that among the female consultants, 44% are paediatricians and 49% are in public health, but only 8% are surgeons.

To download the report - click here

The Frequently Asked Questions have been developed in partnership with a number of organisations - including the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, and several of the Royal Colleges.

To download to FAQs - click here

To find out more about the RCPCH and revalidation - click here

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July

Celebration of Platt conference to be held in November
It is fifty years since the Platt Report was published by the Ministry of Health and to mark this milestone a conference in association with Action for Sick Children is being held at the University of Manchester, 19 November 2009. Speakers at the conference will include:

Professor Terence Stephenson, RCPCH President
Dr Sheila Shribman, National Clinical Director for Children, Young People and Maternity Services, Department of Health

To download the programme for the conference - click here

Care Quality Commission publishes Safeguarding Children Review - 16 July 2009

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) today published a national review of child safeguarding in the NHS.The review was commission by the Secretary of State for Health as part of the response to the Baby Peter case.

To view the CQC review - click here

To view the RCPCH and RCN response to the review - click here

This new guideline has been produced to help health professionals identify children who have suffered physical, sexual and emotional abuse.

The RCPCH welcomes the guideline as an important step in supporting health professionals when making the difficult judgments about possible child maltreatment.

To download the guideline from the NICE website - click here

To view the RCPCH response in full - click here

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August

RCPCH response to the use of antivirals in children with seasonal flu - 10 August 2009

RCPCH response to BMJ paper that found no clear evidence that antivirals prevent complications in children with seasonal flu.

"We note the review and that it reports on the use of antivirals in treating seasonal flu. We agree with the Department of Health that any new evidence should be considered by those who give national health policy advice. We continue to support the Department of Health's advice on the management of children with swine flu."

To view the BMJ paper in full - click here

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September

RCPCH Vice President for Science and Research, Neena Modi, has been appointed the new chairwoman of the BMJ ethics committee - 16 September 2009

For more information - click here

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October

RCPCH response to The Children's Society report on Children in Immigration Detention - 13 October 2009

The Children's Society has published a report - The mental and physical health difficulties of children held within a British immigration detention centre: A pilot study in Child Abuse & Neglect: The International Journal.

Dr Rosalyn Proops, Child Protection Officer, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health:
"The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health is very concerned about the health and welfare of children in immigration detention. We support the concerns of The Children's Society and Bail for Immigration Detainees and are therefore looking hard at the evidence with the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Royal College of General Practitioners. We plan to complete this work by January."

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November

RCPCH response to Department of Health's announcement of data that found child obesity to be 'levelling off' - 3 November 2009

Dr David Vickers, Registrar, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health:

"We welcome this study suggesting an improvement in the number of obese children. However, we need to continue to be vigilant on this issue and remain concerned by the high numbers of overweight and obese children in the UK. We need to see sustained improvement and also to understand what is driving the improvement.

"Obesity damages children's physical and mental health and the harmful effects continue into adulthood. We would strongly encourage all parents and carers to promote healthy lifestyle choices by selecting healthy foods for their families and encouraging regular exercise."

RCPCH response to the NHS Neonatal Toolkit launched today - 4 November 2009

Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health:

"The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health strongly welcomes the publication of these important standards for the NHS to ensure high quality care of sick newborn babies. We are also pleased to learn there will be a ministerial committee to oversee these Taskforce recommendations.

"However, we urge the government to ensure that the resources and funding needed to implement the recommendations and standards are made available. Babies should not be denied access to one-to-one nursing care and other support which is already available to children and adults in intensive care." 

RCPCH celebrates 20th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child - 17 November 2009

Today the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) hosted an event to mark the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). The event celebrated the achievements of the UNCRC over the last 20 years and explored the impact it has had on the lives of millions of children and the challenges moving forward.

Professor Terence Stephenson, President, RCPCH:

"The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health is delighted to be celebrating the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

"A child's right to the best possible healthcare and health services is at the very heart of everything we do as a College. Our Youth Advisory Panel actively participates in many areas of our work and their views on issues that affect them are greatly valued.

"Whilst we celebrate the many achievements of the UNCRC in the last 20 years we must also look ahead to the next 20 years. As a College we are committed to advocating for child rights and involving children and young people in influencing policy relating to their health service. We will continue to speak out on behalf of children and young people on child rights issues including immigration detention and child protection."

Department of Health announces children over six months and under 5 years will be offered the swine flu vaccine - 19 November 2009

Professor Terence Stephenson, President, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health:

"The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health strongly recommends that parents should get their children vaccinated if they are offered the vaccine.  We would also like to emphasise the importance of children's doctors and nurses being vaccinated too, not least to prevent passing the infection on to their patients who may be vulnerable children with serious diseases."

To view the DH press release - click here

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December

Call for Government to stop the immigration of children and young people to prevent unnecessary harm to their physical and mental health - 9 December 2009

The Royal Colleges of Paediatrics and Child Health, General Practitioners and Psychiatrists and the UK Faculty of Public Health have published a new policy statement and recommendations on the harms to the physical and mental health of children and young people in the UK who are subjected to administrative immigration detention.

To view the policy statement in full - click here

To view the press release in full - click here

RCPCH launches Child Protection in Practice - 10 December 2009

The RCPCH has launched this new course to give more skills in managing suspected cases of child abuse with the NSPCC and Advanced Life Support Group (ALSG).

For more information about child protection training - click here

To view the press release in full - click here

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