Models of care

Resource

Two consultant led handovers every 24 hours - Bedford Hospital

This page provides a best practice example for standard 4 of Facing the Future: Standards for acute general paediatric services, which describes the handover process at Bedford Hospital, which is led by consultant paediatricians. Sharing information using structured communication techniques helps to...

Service design

Facing the Future - acute general paediatric services

Models of care

Service planning

Resource

Consultant presence during 'peak activity' - Barnsley Hospital

This page provides a best practice example for standard 1 of Facing the Future: Standards for acute general paediatric services, which outlines the consultant 'hot week' system at Barnsley Hospital, which ensures that there is consultant presence in the hospital during self-defined periods of 'peak ...

Service design

Facing the Future - acute general paediatric services

Models of care

Service planning

Resource

High dependency care for children - time to move on

Published in 2014, this document outlines 69 recommendations to improve the management of high dependency care, placing the child and their complete critical care pathway at the focus of service delivery. It's intended for staff, management and commissioners seeking to deliver safe and high quality ...

Area of medicine

Intensive care medicine

Service design

Models of care

Networks for health services

Resource

Facing the Future - standards for acute general paediatric services

It is essential that paediatrics is a 24 hours a day, seven days a week specialty, with the most experienced doctors present at the busiest times. Our report sets out ten standards for high quality, safe and sustainable acute general paediatric services.

Area of medicine

General paediatrics

Service design

Facing the Future - acute general paediatric services

Measurement and performance

Models of care

Service planning

Workforce

Resource

Quality standards for specialist paediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition

These standards aim to reduce variation in care, ensuring equitable services, and to improve the health outcomes and quality of life for all infants, children and young people with gastroenterology, liver or intestinal disorders in the UK. You can read our summary and download the full standards bel...

Networks for health services

Service planning

Workforce

Resource

Facing the Future - standards for children and young people in emergency care settings

These standards outline how to deliver safe, high quality and integrated care for children and young people in Paediatric Emergency Departments in the UK. The 5th edition of the standards was published in October 2025. You can download the full standards document, the executive summary and the repor...

Facing the Future - emergency care

Integrated care

Models of care

Workforce

Resource

Facing the Future - standards for ongoing health needs

A vision of how paediatric care can be delivered to provide a high-quality service that meets the needs of infants, children and young people with ongoing health needs.

Service design

Facing the Future - ongoing heath needs

Integrated care

Measurement and performance

Models of care

Networks for health services

Service planning

Workforce

Team profile

Invited Reviews Service team

Resource

Palate examination: Identification of cleft palate in the newborn - best practice guide

A cleft palate occurs when the roof of the mouth has not joined completely. A delay in its detection may adversely affect growth, development and timely medical and surgical management. This evidence-based best practice guide provides recommendations on optimal examination of the newborn palate duri...

Neonatal medicine

Primary care

Clinical guidelines and standards

Resource

Standards for short-stay paediatric assessment units (SSPAUs)

SSPAUs are hospital-based facilities where infants, children and young people with acute illness, injury or other urgent referrals from clinicians can be assessed, investigated, observed and treated with an expectation of discharge in less than 24 hours. Standards are vital to guide the development ...