
News
RCPCH calls on Government to extend the £20 a week uplift to Universal Credit
18 January 2021
Our Officer for Health Improvement calls on the Government to extend the £20 a week uplift to Universal Credit. The uplift was introduced last year by the Chancellor in response to the pandemic, and is currently due to be removed from payments at the end of March.
News
Paediatricians warn parents to be alert to signs of eating disorders over holidays
28 December 2020
Paediatricians have seen a huge rise in cases of anorexia nervosa and other food restriction disorders in this age group, with some reporting a doubling, tripling or even quadrupling of cases compared with the same period last year.
News
Updated guidance on valproate use in women and girls of childbearing years is published
14 December 2020
This guidance, updated in December 2020 and endorsed by RCPCH, has been produced to inform all healthcare professionals of best practice around the use and prescribing of valproate. It supports them to navigate situations that could arise as a result of prescribing valproate to women during childbea...
News
RCPCH statement on the ruling in the judicial review, Bell v Tavistock
8 December 2020
We have carefully reviewed this court ruling, which addresses the consent of children and young people to the use of puberty suppressing drugs as part of the treatment of gender dysphoria. We consider that the ruling should not have implications for the general ethical or legal framework for childre...
News
Message from the Registrar - October 2020
26 October 2020
Dr Mike Linney emphasises the importance of protecting services for children and young people as pressure mounts again in the coming months. Highlighting the Chief Nursing Officer stating that vital supports for children including school nurses and health visitors will be protected from redeployment...
News
2200 paediatricians sign open letter to Prime Minister urging Government to extend free school meals to cover holidays
24 October 2020
Thousands of members sign an open letter urging the UK Government to change course on free school meals during the holidays.
News
Message from the President - 3 August
3 August 2020
Russell has heard from many members with concerns for at-risk and vulnerable children in this period, and we're now seeking your insights. He also welcomes the UK government's recent announcement about obesity and junk food advertising, but we need to understand how people's lives are and see the de...
News
Redeployment of health visitors has left vulnerable children at risk
29 July 2020
Health visitors fear the needs of vulnerable children have been missed due to staff redeployment to support the COVID-19 workforce, according to a new UCL survey.
News
We can’t be complacent in stubbing out smoking among young people
18 March 2020
The overall rates of smoking among UK adults and young people have declined in recent decades. Legislation around the consumption, sale and advertisement of cigarettes has become tighter, and wide-reaching public health campaigns have taken effect.
News
We need to take a public health approach to youth violence—it’s not just a criminal matter
9 March 2020
Knife crime gets a lot of attention in the UK press and we should take this worrying trend seriously. But we should also remember that it’s only part of the story. In reality, stab wounds make up a small proportion of the total hospital admissions attributed to violent incidents, and much of the med...