We aim to influence public policy at all levels to improve health outcomes for all infants, children and young people in the UK. We work with members and officers to develop evidence based policy and healthcare standards with clear asks and actions to influence key decision makers.
Our priorities:
- Influence key research decision makers so that child health research, including the areas of health, wellbeing services and mortality, is given the same parity as adult health research.
- Improve health outcomes through advocacy, empower children to be in control of their own health and wellbeing and putting children and their families at the heart of what happens
- Reduce the number of children who become ill or whose illness progresses unnecessarily due avoidable factors.
- Shape policy and practice in the NHS so that it provides high quality and sustainable healthcare services for all children regardless of the setting in which they receive it and to ensure long lasting improvements to services and systems to improve health outcomes for children.
- Work in partnership with other organisations to implement early intervention strategies and reduce health inequalities for children.
Contact us on health.policy@rcpch.ac.uk
Recent content
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Principles for conducting virtual consultations with children and young people
The principles described in this guidance aim to support clinicians who are consulting virtually with patients to provide care in a way that is in the best interests of children and young people, whilst protecting both from the risks associated with virtual consultations.
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Coronavirus vaccination programme - statement
On 2 December 2020, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) authorised the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for those aged 16 years and over in the UK under an emergency use authorisation. On 30 December MHRA issued an emergency use authorisation for the AstraZeneca vaccine. Advice fro...
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Rights to access healthcare for migrant and/or undocumented children
This guidance highlights the barriers that currently exist for certain migrant and/or undocumented children with regards to access to healthcare and attainment of a healthy life. This is in the context of recent increase in efforts to charge certain migrant and/or undocumented groups using NHS servi...
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Digital by default or digital divide? Virtual healthcare consultations with young people 10 – 25 years
One effect of COVID-19 has been the rise in remote consultations. This joint statement, developed in September 2020, outlines some of the issues that need to be considered when undertaking virtual consultations with young people.
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Restoring children’s health services, COVID-19 and winter planning - position statement
Following the disruption to children’s health services caused by COVID-19, RCPCH is calling on national and local health service leaders across the UK to restore children’s access to the health services they need and to prioritise these services throughout the autumn and winter.
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Role of paediatricians in supporting children and young people's mental health - position statement
There is considerable variation in how mental health services for children and young people are delivered across the UK. Our position statement outlines the role of paediatricians in supporting children and young people’s mental health and makes key recommendations to ensure their mental health need...
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Winter pressures in EDs in 2020-21
Winter pressures in emergency departments are familiar. The prospect of delivering emergency care through a winter season during the COVID-19 pandemic presents an extra challenge.
We outline a range of good practice ideas that may help and support members tackling these issues this winter.
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Vaccination in the UK - position statement
Vaccination is proven to be a highly effective intervention to prevent disease, and in the UK vaccines are routinely offered against 18 infections in childhood and adolescence, resulting in a substantial saving in morbidity and mortality. We provide key facts and considerations, our recommendations ...
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NHS People Plan 2020/21 - our summary
"We are the NHS: People Plan for 2020/21 – action for us all" builds on the Interim People Plan that was published in June 2019. The Plan, led by NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSE/I) and Health Education England (HEE), recognises the impact of COVID-19 and sets out what the people of the NHS can...
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National guidance for the recovery of elective surgery in children
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the cessation of all but the most urgent elective children’s surgical cases during the period of peak prevalence of infection in the general population.
These recommendations use the most up to date evidence to inform practice that will enable recovery of ch...