Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH)

Today's #AutumnBudget includes important measures to support child health and wellbeing. But if the government is serious in its pledge to improve child health they must now be clear on plans to address specific pressures on child health services. Read our full response: https://lnkd.in/ek-q76ac

Today the Government has announced additional funding for elective appointments. We urge the Health Secretary to set out how these plans will support child health services to deliver more appointments for children and young people. Read about our concerns: https://lnkd.in/e9ds9uJq

In this week's President's blog Steve wants your help to bring the College and members closer together, he celebrates the disposable vape ban announcement and introduces our new RCPCH Strategy 2024-27. Read the blog: https://lnkd.in/e8mQgwyV

This autumn's #RCPCHMilestones is packed with features on supporting child development. We delve into the importance of health play specialists, managing complex medical conditions, and prioritizing paediatricians' mental health. Read the autumn edition: https://lnkd.in/eUy-gDW7

Today's Care Quality Commission report paints an alarming picture of the state of child health with rising need, increasing waits and poorer outcomes. This must change. We urge a greater focus on children’s services at both a national and local level. Read our full response to the State of Care report: https://lnkd.in/eBaXgvDn

The UK Government has announced a ban on disposable vapes! #CampaignWin Single use vapes are the most popular device among young people in the UK and harm our planet with 5 million discarded each week. We’ve been campaigning for bold action to tackle youth vaping and are delighted that governments across the UK have listened our calls. This ban is a huge win for children’s health and the planet. Read our full response: https://lnkd.in/eh4rrsdJ

The UK government has launched a major public engagement initiative to help shape the NHS 10 year plan. This follows the Darzi Review which laid bare the challenges for child health services and the state of children's health and wellbeing. The College will engage with the development of this plan and, if you are in England, encourages members to get involved wherever possible. Read our full response to the announcement and info for members to help you make the case for children’s health: https://lnkd.in/gPuVPNBN

This week RCPCH have been celebrating SAS Awareness week! Specialist, Associate Specialist and Specialty (SAS) doctors are vital to the paediatric workforce. To celebrate, we've been sharing SAS Careers Stories from members working in paediatrics...   Two of our brilliant SAS committee members Eslam Edris and Peter Rose shared their career journeys with us...."Then I joined as a SAS doctor... I felt I was on the right career pathway" 👉 https://lnkd.in/etHgpSff   And two members, Alice Nichols and Liz Baker shared their experience of supporting and navigating career change.... "I am given the same opportunities as rotational trainees within the department and am encouraged to progress my career" 👉 https://lnkd.in/ezkqD5_m   We've also launched a new SAS careers page! Whether you're a current SAS doctor, an aspiring paediatrician, or a colleague looking to better understand and support the SAS team, explore the new page which is packed with all the information you need to grow and support the SAS community 👉 https://lnkd.in/eFX4_q6n   #SASWeek24 

It was a busy party conference season for RCPCH. Over the past month, we’ve attended Labour, Liberal Democrat and Conservative Party Conferences to advocate on behalf of paediatricians and to champion child health. Equipped with our newly published #RCPCHBlueprint, RCPCH Officers spoke to parliamentarians, ministers, shadow ministers and other stakeholders about what is needed to transform child health services, to support the workforce and why child health must be a priority for all political parties. Here’s some of what we’ve been up to: 📑 Attending roundtable discussions with parliamentarians and other health sector colleagues to discuss, prevention, tackling health inequalities and bringing down NHS waiting lists. 📢 Sharing our work and recommendations in conversations with ministers, shadow ministers and other parliamentarians such as Minister for Public Health and Prevention Andrew Gwynne MP, Shadow Health Minister Dr Ben Spencer, Liberal Democrat Peer Baroness Tyler, and Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Dyke MP (pictured). ✅ Championing the importance of child health in sessions across the conference fringes, from asking Health Secretary Wes Streeting about funding for children’s services, to highlighting the importance of tackling child poverty.  As MPs return to Westminster, we’ll be continuing to call on the UK Government to commit to restoring child health services and engaging with politicians across all political parties to make our recommendations heard. Read more about the #RCPCHBlueprint and these recommendations: https://lnkd.in/erwWY2R2

Introducing the Thrive Paediatrics Resource Hub!     The wellbeing of the paediatric workforce must be a priority to maintain high quality, safe and effective services for children and young people. As we continue to call on national governments for more support for the child health workforce, we know there’s so much brilliant practice being led by paediatricians across the country.     That’s why we’ve launched the Thrive Paediatrics Resource Hub to support all paediatricians in their work to improve wellbeing and working lives. It offers evidence to back up business cases, educational sessions and professional development, practical illustrations of the Thrive Roadmap in practice and lived experience stories of paediatricians who have navigated and overcome challenges during their careers. Topics currently include:  - Civility  - Compassionate leadership  - Psychological safety   - Burnout  Visit the Thrive Paediatrics resource hub, watch the short introductory video and use the content to help improve wellbeing and working lives within your department: https://lnkd.in/exVrBw87