Winter planning

Services for children and young people face challenges, particularly each winter - and perhaps none more so than this year. With our guidance, position statements and case studies, we support members to make a compelling and evidence-based case for children's healthcare.

Restoring children's health services - COVID-19 and winter

Winter planning | Putting children at the centre

We're calling on national and local health service leaders across the UK to restore children’s access to the health services they need.

We do not underestimate the challenge, but without prompt attention there is a real risk that health inequalities will widen, vulnerable children will slip through the net and there will be long term damage to workforce development and service innovation.

Our position

Winter pressures in EDs - good practice

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 members.

Good practice ideas

Managing bronchiolitis this winter

While robust infection control processes are essential, we need to ensure that the flow of patients through the hospital is maintained this winter. We provide recommendations on the management of infants and children with bronchiolitis and lower respiratory tract infections.

Recommendations

EDs - our position on managing winter pressures

Our joint position statement with RCEM and RCN, published in November 2019, recommended a whole system approach to healthcare planning which treats children equally to adults in emergency departments.

Joint position statement

COVID-19 &Us - children and young people's views

Our RCPCH &Us programme is working with young people around the UK - reflecting on their experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the evidence from studies. Their insight helps inform our future planning.

Young people's views

Young people's summaries of studies