Child health ‘put at risk’ by lack of consultants

Children’s health is at risk because of a “chronic” shortage of consultants at peak times, leading doctors have warned.

Failing to provide enough specialists has become “common practice” in the vast majority of acute paediatric care units, a report by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) found.

A senior consultant is on site in fewer than one in 10 children’s units during the busiest periods at the weekends, its audit of British hospitals showed.

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The RCPCH’s report also showed “serious” staff shortages during peak times – between 5pm and 10pm – during the week.

It has now called for urgent reform to acute paediatric 
care which, it claims, is not a safe or sustainable service and is “heavily reliant” on the dedication of staff.

“At times of peak activity, when you would expect the standard of service to be at its most robust, the most senior, skilled and experienced staff are not always present,” the report claimed.