Find out more about general paediatrics. Access the current syllabus for the final part of general paediatrics training (level 3).
What makes a general paediatrician?
General paediatricians manage children from birth to late adolescence with problems ranging from acute, life-threatening illnesses to chronic diseases, and focus on health promotion from newborn to late adolescence.
General paediatricians are experts in the investigation and diagnosis of children with non-specific symptoms and signs. They initiate treatment which may be delivered and continued by themselves or by another person or team according to the needs of the child. General paediatricians also collaborate with other professionals and agencies in order to deliver optimal care. They step in and oversee individual, tailored care whenever appropriate.
As a result, general paediatricians develop a wide variety of skills allowing them to provide holistic, child-centred care across the full range of paediatric subspecialties. They may develop significant expertise in specialised paediatric areas, but they maintain their knowledge and skills across the full breadth of child health.
I love the variety. I love all the interactions with the multdisciplinary team. I love to be able to see a whole range of patients...
We asked several consultant general paediatricians for their views in this short video!
Revisions to the syllabus in 2021
After speaking with clinicians working in general paediatrics, we agreed some enhancements to the level 3 general paediatrics syllabus, including to the Learning Outcomes. This was approved for use by the General Medical Council (GMC) as of August/September 2021.
You can download the revised syllabus below, as well as a document that maps the Learning Outcomes from the 2018 version to the revised version.
Dr Fiona Hignett, ST8 in General Paediatrics, introduced these revisions in this video.
If you have any queries, please contact qualityandstandards@rcpch.ac.uk