Publications

Short Stay Paediatric Assessment Units - Advice for Commissioners and Providers, RCPCH 2009

This report aims to inspire discussion about Short Stay Paediatric Assessment Units (SSPAUs) among NHS commissioners and providers of hospital paediatric care. It proposes that SSPAUs can improve the provision of safe emergency services for children and examines some possible models. 

Short Stay Paediatric Assessment Units 

Children and Young People Emergency and Urgent Care Pathway, Institute for Innovation and Improvement, RCPCH 2008

This document looks at the emergency and urgent care pathway for children and young people with the most common illnesses and injuries.

Focus on: Children and Young People Emergency and Urgent Care Pathway (2.2MB)

The Role of the Consultant Paediatrician with Subspecialty Training in Paediatric Emergency Medicine, RCPCH 2008

This new report by the the Intercollegiate Committee for Services for Children in Emergency Departments explores the role of paediatricians with subspecialty training in Paediatric Emergency Medicine, and makes recommendations for how their skills can be most effectively utilised.

The Role of the Consultant Paediatrician with Subspeciality Training in Paediatric Emergency Medicine

Services for Children in Emergency Departments, RCPCH 2007

This is a revised version of the original 1999 intercollegiate publication, also known as "the red book". It outlines recommendations for the care and treatment of children in emergency settings.

Services for Children in Emergency Departments (539KB)

Useful links

• Maximising Nursing Skills in Paediatric Emergency Departments (2010) produced in conjunction with the RCPCH, this RCN publication is for emergency department managers, lead consultants and lead nurses. It provides detailed guidance on competence development for nursing staff.
  
  
• National Leadership Network provided recommendations to the government on the future of acute hospitals in March 2006. The report is of interest for children's services as it outlines possible links with A&E services.
  
  
• Direction of Travel for Urgent Care: a discussion document (2006)  is a Department of Health consultation on the future strategic direction of urgent care services in England. The College made a formal response to this consultation; RCPCH Response to DH Urgent Care Consultation.
  
  
• Emergency Care Framework for Children and Young People in Scotland (2006) outlines the Scottish vision for urgent care.
  
  
• The acutely or critically sick or injured child in the district general hospital - a team response (2006) is a multi-College working group report outlining both overarching principles and more detailed recommendations for the urgent care of children.
  
  
• Emergency access, the clinical case for change (2006)  is a report form Sir George Alberti, the National Director for Emergency Access.
  
  
• Emergency Care Ten Years On : Reforming Emergency Care : Report from Sir George Alberti (April 2007)
  
  
• Medicines in Unplanned Care Toolkit is a publication by the Medicines Management Network North West for those involved in urgent care review, looking at solutions for access to medicines.