RCPCH President comments on new child protection guidance

President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, Dr Hilary Cass comments on new guidance which has been issued by the General Medical Council, urging doctors to report concerns about child neglect or abuse.

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

'No amount of guidance will completely eliminate child abuse, but with an average of one child dying every week because of abuse, we need guidance like this to make sure doctors do everything in their power to lower that figure.

'Identifying child abuse and neglect is one of the hardest and most complicated parts of medicine, but we can help doctors get better at spotting it by ensuring their judgement is as good as it can be and that they have the confidence to make decisions.'