Policy

Parents of ill babies need more care say experts

Parents of vulnerable babies should not be restricted from spending time with their newborn child while in hospital and must be instructed in how to care for them, a specialist medical group has warned.

The neonatal expert advisory group, which was set up by the Scottish Government, has issued recommendations to improve care for vulnerable babies.

Last published on 6 March 2013

RCPCH comments on Government's 'Living well for Longer' strategy

The President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health responds to today’s launch of Government’s ‘Living Well for Longer’ strategy.

President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, Dr Hilary Cass, said:

Last published on 5 March 2013

Regulation 75 of Health and Social Care Act to be re-written

Health Minister Norman Lamb MP responded to an urgent question in the House of Commons earlier today on the section 75 regulations which relate to competition in the NHS. He stressed that the Government will rewrite key parts of the regulations to “remove any doubt” that the legislation will lead to wholesale privatisation of the NHS.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/mar/05/nhs-private-sector-humiliating-u-turn-labour

Last published on 5 March 2013

Paediatrician warns about falling care standards

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health's Dr Peter Fowlie, speaks exclusively to The Herald about the need for reconfiguration in order to improve healthcare for children in Scotland.

Dr Peter Fowlie, The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health's Officer for Scotland, said:

'When you say the word "reconfiguration" alarm bells start ringing and people automatically think of closures.

'While this may be true in some situations, it's certainly not always the case.

Last published on 25 February 2013

Baby formula milk should have cigarette-style health warnings, says top charity

Save the Children has called for formula milk to carry a much larger 'cigarette-style' warning that breastfeeding is best for babies.

It wants the messages - applicable to the UK, other European nations as well as the developing world - to be big enough to cover at least a third of the packaging.

Last published on 18 February 2013

Plain packs wait as kids get a habit

Smokefree Action Coalition has claimed that 78,500 children have started smoking while NHS chiefs consider a ban on branded cigarette packets.

Health officials have had until last August to publish the results of a Government consultation on introducing plain packs, but campaigners are still waiting.

Deborah Arnott, of Action on Smoking and Health, said that heavily branded, brightly coloured cigarette packets are attractive to children and hundreds more are taking up smoking every day.

Last published on 14 February 2013

Food critic's call to boost school cookery lessons

One of Wales' most prominent food critics has called for more emphasis to be placed on teaching cooking in schools in Wales.

Simon Wright said it would be a great way to get to grips with child obesity levels, which are 35% according to recent statistics. Wales could "lead the way in addressing one of the greatest health threats of our time", he said

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-21408359

Last published on 12 February 2013

Death and failure in a childrens' unit

Two weeks ago, Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Essex was named as one of five NHS trusts in England with “persistently high” death rates.

Last published on 7 February 2013

RCPCH responds to Francis Inquiry

In response to the publication of the Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Public Inquiry, Dr Hilary Cass, President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said:

'The publication of today’s Francis Inquiry demonstrates powerfully the extent to which systemic failures, breakdown of communication and poor management in Mid-Staffordshire cost lives – and is right to say that all healthcare professionals and the organisations that represent them have a responsibility to act promptly to ensure such a crisis never happens again.

Last published on 6 February 2013

'Universal HPV vaccination' call

Schoolboys in the UK should receive the HPV vaccine to protect against throat cancer, a charity has urged.

The jab was introduced in 2008 for girls, to immunise them against the virus that causes cervical cancer.

The Throat Cancer Foundation says the vaccine protects against other cancers and has urged the government to extend the programme to all 12-year-olds.

So far Australia is the only country to routinely offer universal vaccination to boys and girls. The measure has also been recommended by the US Centers for Disease Control.

Last published on 1 February 2013