Engagement
The experiences and views of clinicians and other medical professionals, children and young people, as well as their parents and carers have been critical in shaping discussions and decisions about the project.
A series of events and workshops held throughout the two projects gathered information, comments and suggestions, and feedback from many of the following:
- Acute and community commissioners
- Children, young people, their families and carers
- GPs
- Health visitors
- Paediatricians
- Physiotherapists
- Medical directors
- Nurses
- Specialist children’s services managers
Healthcare for London Medical Director, Andy Mitchell, said: “The case for changing the provision of healthcare for children and young people in the capital is strong. Too many children and young people are admitted to hospital unnecessarily after a visit to A&E, when they could be treated more locally in their local GP surgery, polyclinic or community nursing team.
“We recommend having paediatric assessment units staffed by senior doctors trained in child medicine. These doctors will advise what is best for the child – whether that be observation in the unit, further tests, or referral on to a specialist inpatient unit or their GP.”
“Great to see a lot of work being done on the subject with great drive to convert aspirations to reality,” said a stakeholder event participant.
“This project has a real opportunity to review services across London and clarify the need to change to make services more equal,” said a stakeholder event participant.
