Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH)

The November RCPCH Safety eBulletin is coming soon!

This edition features learning from Serious Hazards of Transfusion (SHOT) programme — and how we can make transfusions safer for children.

Members: check your email settings to stay in the loop!

🔗 safety.rcpch.ac.uk/safety-ebull...

NHS suggests coeliac children use food banks as doctors blast ‘cruel’ cuts Clinicians warn of ‘shocking levels of ignorance’ over ‘cruel and risky’ decision to cut gluten-free prescriptions

Our Officer for Health Improvement, Dr Helen Stewart, highlights how cutting gluten-free prescriptions for children with coeliac disease exposes deeper issues of rising child poverty, with some families unable to afford a healthy, balanced diet. #ShiftTheDial

👇 www.independent.co.uk/news/health/...

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 publishe...

You can read more about the intercollegiate standards here: www.rcpch.ac.uk/resources/fa...

NHS slammed for treating children who need A&E care as ‘second-rate citizens’ Many emergency departments lack the infrastructure to meet the growing needs of child patients, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health said

“Children are being treated as second-rate citizens in the eyes of NHS funding.”

RCPCH President Prof Steve Turner highlights how our joint Emergency Care Standards aim to reshape urgent care for children making safe, timely care a reality for every child.

👇
www.independent.co.uk/news/health/...

Rachel Reeves to lift two-child benefit cap in November budget Exclusive: Officials exploring options to change rule that affected 1.7 million children in Great Britain last year

We welcome plans to scrap the ineffective and unjust two child limit. To truly achieve the Government’s goal of creating the healthiest generation of children ever, the two child limit must be scrapped entirely.

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

RCPCH President Professor Steve Turner on our joint panel today with @barnardos.org.uk and @thekingsfund.bsky.social on how to raise the healthiest generation of children ever. #Lab25

Every breath counts: Action on air quality (RCP and RCPCH) panel

Every breath counts: Action on air quality (RCP and RCPCH) panel

Every breath counts: Action on air quality (RCP and RCPCH) panel

Every breath counts: Action on air quality (RCP and RCPCH) panel

Today we hosted a joint session at #Lab25 with @rcpch.bsky.social, about addressing #airquality.

Our panel discussed the negative impacts of #airquality across our life course, the need for stronger regulation and a UK-wide public health campaign about the health impacts of air pollution.

Our VP for Policy Dr Mike McKean speaking this morning about the impacts of air pollution on children’s health on our joint panel “Every breath counts: Action on air quality” with
@rcphysicians.bsky.social at #Lab25

Every breath counts: Action on air quality Join our panel session as we consider how national and local government can take action on air quality and improve the health of the public.

Tomorrow, with @rcpch.bsky.social, we’re hosting a joint session ‘Every Breath Counts – Action on Air Quality’ where our panel will consider how national and local government can tackle poor #airquality.

👉Learn more and join the discussion: ow.ly/zX5950X3xwS

This week we wrote to the Times to reaffirm the calls from child health and child protection professionals to end physical punishment. The evidence is clear.

We continue to urge the government to remove the ‘reasonable punishment’ defence and protect every child from harm.

The #ChildHealthWorkforceAlliance brings 25 leading health-focused organisations together to help build a workforce for the healthiest generation of children ever.

Find out how government can make child health a priority in its NHS workforce plan: www.rcpch.ac.uk/news-events/...

United to improve paediatric patient safety, RCPCH and NIHR SafetyNet held a great webinar exploring the WHO priorities with nearly 200 people.

We invite you to participate in the partnership, watch the recording and express interest here: www.rcpch.ac.uk/resources/pa...

Graphic announcing Dr Alice Willson as one of the Clean Air Fund's 2025 Urban Clean Air Champions

In Manchester, Dr Alice Willson is helping protect children from dirty air. As a @rcpch.bsky.social Clinical Fellow, she’s created tools to educate families & policymakers on #AirPollution, shaping national conversations on clean air & kids’ health. Learn more: bit.ly/46ltRKj

Last chance to register for our webinar on Wednesday 17 September, 1–2pm, marking WHO’s World Patient Safety Day 2025.

Join Dr Peter Lachman and Dr Cally Feather as we launch a new partnership between NIHR SafetyNet and RCPCH: www.rcpch.ac.uk/news-events/...

Next week, join the RCPCH/NIHR SafetyNet webinar on responding to challenges in paediatric patient safety, and plans for co-designed research and improvement priority setting

📆17 Sept 1-2pm

Sign up: www.rcpch.ac.uk/news-events/...

AI, data and digital innovation are transforming paediatrics.

At #DigitalPaediatrics2025, you’ll hear first-hand how technology is shaping safer, smarter healthcare for children.

📍Millennium Point, Birmingham - or join online.
👉 Register now: www.rcpch.ac.uk/news-events/...

“Paediatricians are very clear that children or teenagers do not need energy drinks.”

RCPCH welcomes plans to ban energy drink sales to under-16s, with RCPCH President Professor Steve Turner calling it a sensible step to improve children’s diets and health.

👇 www.itv.com/news/2025-09...

Each year, RCPCH Global Operations team welcomes paediatric clinicians from low & middle-income countries as part of Visiting Fellowship Scheme.

Read about moments that inspired some of this year’s fellows & lesson they’ll carry forward into their careers: www.rcpch.ac.uk/membership/m...

We support NHS England’s ambition to improve conditions for resident doctors through its new 10-point plan. It’s a vital first step, but meaningful progress will only come through consistent delivery and monitoring.

Read more here: www.rcpch.ac.uk/news-events/...

Digital Paediatrics 2025 will be held on 5 November.

Attend in Birmingham or online to hear from Microsoft UK’s Umang Patel, SickKids’ Devin Singh, Google, NHS transformation and the Guy’s AI team.

Secure your place today: www.rcpch.ac.uk/news-events/...

Calling all RCPCH members.
 
We’ve got two exciting Trustee roles open and we’re looking for passionate, strategic thinkers to help lead the College through our 2024–27 strategy.
 
Apply by 10 October, 12:00  
www.rcpch.ac.uk/get-involved...

Half of children in England live in homes at risk of overheating Some five million children - over half of those in England - are living in homes at risk of overheating.

Our Climate Change Officer spoke to the BBC about the serious health risks hot homes pose to children.

We continue to urge the Government and the housing sector to address the urgent need for safer housing conditions.

Read more: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

RCPCH Officer for Health Services, Dr Ronny Cheung appearing on Good Morning Britain.

Our Officer for Health Services, Dr Ronny Cheung, spoke on Good Morning Britain about the Govt’s new voluntary guidelines to cut the eye-wateringly high sugar & salt in baby food.

A welcome step - but not enough.

We need mandatory limits to truly protect children’s health.
#EarlyYearsNutrition

Health professionals stand firmly with parents and young people in recognising that physical punishment is not only outdated and unjust, but also harmful to children's health and wellbeing. Professor Andrew Rowland. Officer for Child Protection.

81% of parents in England with young children say physical punishment is unacceptable.

We continue to urge the Government to listen to families, professionals and the public and finally #EndPhysicalPunishment

Read our response to @nspcc.bsky.social latest data: www.rcpch.ac.uk/news-events/...

From all of us at the College, wishing a very happy 75th birthday to our patron, HRH the Princess Royal.

Pink and orange background with the words 'The Paeds Round. Vax machines - preventing infectious diseases. This time around we have a very special guests, the former Chair of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunology, Professor Sir Andrew Pollard. He joins Emma and Christo to highlight the importance of prevention of infectious diseases and how this could change the future of child health and the NHS itself.'

A new episode of The Paeds Round is out now.

Professor Sir Andrew Pollard joins Dr Emma Lim and Dr Christo Tsilifis to explore how preventing infectious diseases could transform child health and the NHS.

Listen now: learning.rcpch.ac.uk/home/podcast...

Why measles and whooping cough are on the rise again in the UK The vast majority of paediatricians in the UK have seen children's health getting worse as a result of poverty.

Our Officer for Health Improvement, Dr Helen Stewart, spoke to @bigissue.com about the rise of measles and our new report with @cpaguk.bsky.social which revealed how poverty is driving missed appointments and worsening child health.

Read more here: www.bigissue.com/news/social-...

To mark #WorldPatientSafetyDay 2025, we've joined forces with @nihrpsrcs.bsky.social to host a webinar exploring challenges in paediatric safety and how we respond to them.

Wed, 17 Sept at 1–2pm

Sign up: www.rcpch.ac.uk/news-events/...

RCPCH report on Clean Air Clinics A new report by the UK's Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) calls on clinicians, clinical services, and the government to tackle poor housing and air pollution to improve children's...

Our clinical fellow Dr Alice Wilson sat down with @thelancet.com to talk about RCPCH’s recent report urging action from clinicians and policymakers to address housing and air pollution in order to protect children’s health.‬‬‬‬

Read more here (paywall): www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

Fix “unfair” child mental health funding to protect our future health and prosperity, top paediatrician urges The NHS 10 year plan promises to transform child health, but Britain’s most senior paediatrician warns there needs to be a focus on delivery. Gareth Iacobucci reports “Poorly children become poorly a...

He emphasised that early intervention is vital to improving child health and pointed to wider social determinants, such as housing and education, as critical to long-term outcomes.

Read more here (paywall): www.bmj.com/content/390/...