Latest BPSU news

The British Paediatric Surveillance Unit in 2012 and its long-term future

A message from the BPSU - Many of you will have been concerned to hear that the current grant for the BPSU from the Department of Health Policy Research Programme is due to conclude in late 2012.  For most of its 25-year history the BPSU has relied on charitable donations and grants rather than government funding, so this funding scenario is nothing new. 

We have always had to be creative and resourceful in finding income without compromising our quality and independence. We are now working hard to secure the future of the BPSU in these difficult financial times.

The RCPCH, which hosts the surveillance unit, together with the parent bodies the Health Protection Agency and UCL Institute of Child Health remain committed to active paediatric surveillance of rare conditions and are continuing to review the best financial, operational and scientific model for the BPSU, with the aim of strengthening and securing its long term future.

In the meantime, the BPSU continues with active surveillance and welcomes new studies.

The BPSU is actively working with its partners to identify and secure new sources of financial support, as well as developing modern and cost-effective systems for electronic notification and online reporting, which have now been piloted and will be introduced in 2012. The BPSU will keep all paediatricians, partners, stakeholders and other contributors updated with progress throughout 2012.

The BPSU is recognised nationally and internationally as a model for the active surveillance of rare conditions in a population of 14 million children across the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. The achievements of the BPSU have only been possible because of the sustained commitment of clinicians in completing and returning the Orange Cards over the last three decades.

Although this is a difficult funding environment, we are hopeful that we can take the BPSU forward into 2013 and beyond. Its continued success also depends on you – one of the 93% of BPSU clinicians who each month return an Orange Card.

Please continue to return your Orange Cards and report cases.

Professor Alan Emond

The BPSU in 2012 and its long-term future (PDF, 79KB, 1 page)

Annual report

The BPSU 2010-2011 Annual Report has just been published and can be downloaded here:

BPSU 2010-2011 Annual Report (PDF, 7.3MB, 56 pages)

New Studies

• Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome - Study started in October  2011
• Gender Identity Disorder - Study started in November 2011

BPSU latest Bulletin March 2012

BPSU_Bulletin_March_2012(PDF, 180KB, 4 pages) or float your cursor over the image below and click on 'expand':

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