The recommendation to not employ foundation doctors in children's wards was accepted in principle by the government in March 2018, with a review in the context of workforce planning and consideration of Royal College concerns regarding de-skilling impacts (Govt response, 2018-03-01). The Department of Health NI's Implementation Programme reported this as "In Progress" as of January 2024. While independent evidence from February 2026 generally confirmed the implementation of practical paediatric care standards across HSC Trusts for recommendations 10-20, it did not specifically list the non-employment of foundation doctors as "now in place."