Child Death

Action Planned (AI summary) The Department for Education noted the recommendations and is making progress by working with the Outdoor Education Advisers' Panel (OEAP) and the UK Sepsis Trust to update national guidance in relation to sepsis awareness, and intends to update its Health and safety responsibilities and duties for schools to reference the work of the OEAP.

Action Planned (AI summary) The paediatric team is developing a 'Paediatric Advice Proforma' on the Trust's electronic Iportal system to aid documentation of conversations between hospitals and an associated Standard Operating Procedure. Royal Stoke has appointed a named Consultant to manage children with metabolic disease. The Trust is working to transition to the most recent version of the Norse system, which will include features to document patient observations and communication between clinicians. They will also remind clinicians to keep contemporaneous notes about advice given to district general hospitals.

Action Planned (AI summary) DEFRA, DFT, and DHSC will continue to work to improve public awareness of air pollution, including a pilot project with GPs providing air quality advice and information to a range of vulnerable groups. They will also make expertise available to relevant professional organisations. The Mayor of London has implemented measures such as the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and is expanding the monitoring network. They are also supporting health and care system support for vital structural changes. NICE amended its asthma guideline (NG80) in March 2021 to clarify the link between air pollution and asthma and added links to NICE guidelines on air pollution: outdoor air quality and health and indoor air quality at home. The RCGP is in the process of producing a planetary health element of the curriculum that all new GPs will be assessed against and are also planning a high-profile webinar incorporating elements regarding pollution. The RCP will work with specialist societies to raise the profile of air pollution's impacts, review the internal medicine curriculum, increase knowledge among physicians, produce resources for professionals to discuss air pollution with patients, improve incentives for conversations, and urge government to tighten regulations. The NMC will consider the concerns in their evaluation of pre-registration standards, focusing on communication with families, and identify further activity to ensure professionals understand their obligations to communicate clearly with patients about evidence related to managing and preventing ill-health. The BTS intends to build upon work undertaken to date by raising awareness of the effects of poor air quality, producing an updated Position Statement on air quality and lung health, and adding the health care profession voice to the debate on climate change and air pollution through membership of the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change and involvement in the Taskforce for Lung Health. The RCPCH curriculum includes a domain on health promotion, and they are working with NHS England/Improvement and Health Education England to develop asthma competencies for child health professionals and carers. They also declared a climate emergency and published a report on tackling climate change. HEE will write to the relevant medical Royal Colleges, GMC and NMC to highlight that improving awareness of the impact of air pollution on health should be considered when developing curricula. The GMC will review standards for medical education to consider how environmental issues are covered, encourage medical schools to address air pollution in curricula, and promote inclusion of environmental impacts in postgraduate training curricula. HEE will add the theme of environmental impacts to the list of potentially important areas to consider as they progress the credentialing agenda. UKHACC delivered a pilot project with Global Action Plan, funded by Defra and the Clean Air Fund, to educate paediatricians and respiratory health professionals on air pollution advice for patients. The London Borough of Lewisham has expanded monitoring capacity, taken part in the Breathe London project, and refreshed the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment for Air Quality. They also promote air quality monitoring tools via social media and local advertising, and ensure information is positioned on relevant websites and newsletters.

Action Planned (AI summary) NICE guidelines on postnatal care and neonatal infection were being updated to address concerns about monitoring mothers/babies after discharge and assessing babies when mothers are admitted with infection. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health will continue to advocate for adequate resources in child health. NICE updated its guidance for postnatal care (NG194) to include a recommendation addressing the assessment of the baby where the mother has symptoms or signs of sepsis. The scope of its updated guidance for Neonatal infection (NG195) also covers late neonatal infection.

Action Planned (AI summary) The BBSA, working with Trading Standards and RoSPA, has produced specific guidance for Landlords on window blind safety and updated its child safety website to include landlords and signpost the guidance; the National Residential Landlords Association is supporting the dissemination of this guidance. The Secretary of State acknowledges the risks of looped blind cords, reiterates the legal obligations for safe products, and will ask officials to further publicise RoSPA's safety campaign through newsletters to landlords and local authorities and guides for the private rented sector.

Action Planned (AI summary) The RCOG commits to developing a Scientific Impact Paper on the management of IFH to inform practice and scaling training nationally to improve outcomes.