As a Royal College we are dedicated to the paediatric workforce and the health of children and young people in the UK and globally. Children and young people need to be cared for by a workforce that feels valued, invested in and fully supported.
Our snapshot survey in May 2025 showed that 82% of paediatricians feel there isn’t sufficient staffing to meet the needs of children and young people, with 63% reporting feeling burnt out. We all know that the continued slow erosion of the health of the workforce is unsustainable and ultimately jeopardises the safe provision of care for children and young people.
We are working on behalf of our members, taking every opportunity to call on Government for support for the paediatric workforce in our role as a medical royal college. The Government is due to publish the long term workforce plan “refresh” shortly, and we are calling for immediate action to support our paediatric doctors now and longer-term solutions spanning all elements of child health and wellbeing services. You can read about our key calls in our workforce policy briefing.
Taking industrial action is a personal choice, and one to be made in terms of the individual’s own work, environment and union. We know our members will not be taking the decision lightly and we are here to support all our members, whatever decision they make. The College is not a union and not an employer for resident doctors. Government and the union must make every effort possible to bring this to a speedy conclusion.