We have now entered a new phase of the COVID outbreak, and I know that we are all braced for what is coming. Some of you are already under intense pressure. I’ve spoken to and heard from many of you, and I want to begin by thanking you for everything that you’re doing and for the sacrifices you’re making. A great deal is being asked of you all and I know that it is an exceptionally stressful period.
PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) is still a big problem and we’re pushing as hard as we can with NHS England and the Chief Medical Officer to get it sorted urgently. We're also speaking to devolved governments and looking at their commitments to getting this right. It is simply not acceptable that some of you feel unsafe and don’t have the equipment you need to respond to this crisis. We will continue to lobby intensively on PPE, but I need your help. If it’s a problem where you work, wherever you're based in the UK, please let us know by emailing public.affairs@rcpch.ac.uk. My team will collate the responses and it will help us lobby more effectively. Please be as detailed or as brief as you need to be. We will read and respond to everything that comes through.
I am also working with College Officers to make sure that children’s services are protected as we move towards the peak period. This week we published guidance covering a range of issues to help make sure this happens, and I’m very grateful to everyone working to protect what we need for children and young people.
...we owe it to [children] to ensure they have the services they need during this period
We will come under real pressure in the weeks ahead as individuals and as a specialty. It is vital that we work in different ways, all of us know that, but it is also critical to protect a good standard of paediatric services. This is a difficult balance to get right at the moment – we as paediatricians must absolutely contribute to the broader fight against COVID-19, and that means many of our beds being given over to adults and some of you working beyond your expertise.
Yet we absolutely must also ensure that children’s services are not side-lined as the surge mounts. There’s an issue of ‘generational equality’ here – children are not much affected by COVID, but they certainly are by the national response to COVID. We have closed down their lives and their education – and for very good reason. However, we owe it to them to ensure they have the services they need during this period, and we must robustly protect a core of paediatric intensive care, neonatal intensive care and acute services. It is a balancing act that will test us, but we are working very hard to get it right.
One group that worries me is vulnerable children. We are conscious that as colleagues get drafted into other roles, and with the expected influx of young adults into children’s hospitals, vulnerable children may fall through cracks in an already stretched system. This is a vital area of concern. I am making the case with decision makers and we published guidance on safeguarding and vulnerable children earlier in the week, and we'll have child protection guidance specific to Scotland imminently.
Finally, the NHS in England launched an audit and evaluation tool which will be a very important tool for us. It provides up-to-date information about clinical aspects of COVID-19 and determines the care needs of children admitted to hospital with COVID-19. If you’re based in England, I’d really encourage you to submit data as needed. And, if you’re concerned about training – my colleague David Evans has written more here (in short – please don’t worry).
I know that many of you are worried and scared. I know how hard you are working, and I see every day your commitment and dedication. Please know that we are here for you and we will do everything we can to protect you and get you what you need. Thank you for everything that you are doing, and I wish you strength and all the very best in the week ahead.
Russell
This message was emailed to all RCPCH members who are opted in to receive College updates / professional updates. You can update your contact preferences at any time - log in to your RCPCH online account, go to My account | Your contact preferences, then make sure you've ticked College updates / professional updates.