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The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) has published a report expressing concerns that a lack of paediatric doctors and nurses across the UK means that care for children is at risk.

A report from the RCPCH, The State of Child Health Services: The Paediatric Workforce, revealed that hospitals treating children and babies have to shut their doors to new patients due to being “dangerously” short-staffed.

As a result of the short-staffing, doctors are forced to make decisions that are sometimes life or death about which patients to treat, which one paediatrician described as “being forced to dice with death.” Another paediatrician explained the consequences of short-staffing: “It’s becoming normal to do the work of two or three so corners are constantly being cut and kids don’t get the time and attention they deserve.”

In August 2016, it was reported that a Staffordshire Hospital temporarily suspended a children’s A&E service owing to fears it was unsafe due to a lack of “professionally trained and experienced staff”. Meanwhile the adult A&E remained open. Senior staff at the hospital deemed the A&E service for children to not be “clinically safe” when they suspended the service. As a result of the suspension, University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS trust advised parents to take their children to a GP or pharmacist, or phone 999 in cases of emergency. This followed an incident in June 2016 when young heart patients were reportedly “put at risk of harm” whilst being treated a Bristol hospital due to both staff shortages and a lack of skills.

The RCPCH’s president, Neena Modi believes that the problems of hospitals being under-staffed and under-resourced could be solved, and asks “why, when solutions exist, the health and wellbeing of children are being placed in jeopardy?”

The conclusion of the RCPCH’s report highlighted the workforce shortfall: “. Numbers have failed to keep pace with patient numbers leading to dangerous pressure on an already stretched service.” The report cited national policies, changing expectations and poor reconfiguration of services as other factors contributing to the problem and wrote “These many serious difficulties risk medicine becoming a less sought-after profession and are compromising both patient care and the reputation of the UK as a global leader in clinical practice, applied research, and innovation. Urgent action is essential to address these problems.”

Ashwati Menon, a Caseworker for Duncan Lewis Solicitors comments:

“It is unacceptable that the well-being and lives of children are at risk as a result of staff shortages. It should not come to the stage where children’s units are being closed or suspended. The NHS has to make urgent changes to give children the best possible start in life.”

Ashwati Menon is a Caseworker in the Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury Departments. She is experienced in assisting on numerous clinical negligence claims, including, but not limited to, orthopaedic claims, gastroenterology and cardiac related injuries.

Duncan Lewis Clinical Negligence Solicitors

The Duncan Lewis Clinical Negligence team has significant experience acting in a vast array of claims including accident and emergency failures, GP negligence claims, misdiagnosed fractures and other medical conditions and wrongful death claims. They also act for children and adults who have suffered profound and permanent brain, spinal or neurological injuries and associated disabilities as a consequence of failings in medical care in both NHS and private hospitals.

If you believe your doctor has made a mistake and wish to claim compensation or have any questions about treatment you have received, please do not hesitate to contact our team of specialist clinical negligence solicitors on 0333 772 0409.