Facing the Future - standards for paediatric care

A vision of how paediatric care can be delivered to provide a safe and sustainable, high-quality service that meets the health needs of every child and young person.
It is essential that paediatrics is a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week specialty, with the most experienced doctors present at the busiest times.
In 'Together for child health', we look at how to diagnose and treat children and young people with acute illness quickly and close to home.
Results from our audit on standards in acute paediatrics and care outside hospital highlighted gaps within paediatric rotas and poor links between primary care and the hospital child health service.
Nurse looking after child with her parent looking on
These standards apply to children who are awaiting diagnosis or are under the care of child health services to manage their ongoing health needs.
Urgent and emergency care must be fully integrated. Our audit toolkit can support your progress in meeting these standards.
Ambulances waiting outside an Emergency Department of a hospital
Emergency departments were given provided a self-assessment toolkit, and we received 91 responses between 2018 and early 2020. Published in 2022, findings show scope to improve service delivery.
Medical case

Best practice examples

How have hospitals and clinical teams like yours implemented these standards for paediatric care?

Related news and resources

Children's rights

At its heart, Facing the Future is about the rights of children and young people - to be involved in decisions about their care, and be treated by the right people, at the right time, in the right place.