Child safety fears following shortage of doctors

Child safety fears and long waiting times have been highlighted in a new report as the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) calls for more doctors in the community.

A new report by the RCPCH and the British Association for Community Child Health (BACCH), State of Child Health, has highlighted a 25 per cent shortfall in the number of community paediatricians.

The report raises concerns over the system struggling to cope with increasing demand and the unprecedented pressures faced by specialist community children’s doctors who have a wide remit from child protection to caring for children with disabilities and diagnosing those with conditions like autism and ADHD.

The report also found that since the Health and Social Care Act 2012, children are increasingly facing a ‘postcode lottery’ due to cracks in the way services are commissioned and provided across health and local authorities.

The report makes a number of recommendations, including an increase of 25 per cent (320) in the number of community paediatricians, to meet recommended levels and reduce waiting times.

It also provides guidance and specifications for commissioners, clinicians and health care organisations, all with the aim of ending the ‘postcode lottery’ and providing a better quality of care for this group.

Gabrielle Laing, BAACH chair, said: “Community paediatricians have a wide remit for some of our most vulnerable children and families. This report shines a light on the significant variability of these services across the country and highlights the 25 per cent shortfall of doctors on the ground. It’s this shortage, as well as growing demands, which is leading to very long waiting times. For example, 40 per cent of services reported waits of over eight months for the assessment of suspected autism. Delays like this are completely unacceptable.

“What’s more, pressures on community paediatrics are also resulting in less dedicated time for child protection and the essential safeguarding work, which helps to protect vulnerable children from abuse. Paediatricians play a key role in this area and our fear is that without the appropriate resources we’ll see more instances of ‘at risk’ children falling through the cracks, with tragic outcomes.”