RCPCH Annual Review 2023

Annual Review 2023

Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

Leading the way in Children’s Health

A message from our patron, HRH The Princess Royal

As Patron of The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, I congratulate those who have been recognised for their excellence, and to all the College’s members, both in the UK and internationally who strive to improve children’s lives.

Undoubtedly, the past year has been challenging, but the College has made huge strides to ensure that paediatrics and child health is heard at all levels of decision-making.

2023 was an important moment, as we also saw the launch of the College’s renewed curriculum, ‘Progress+’, allowing for more flexibility in training for paediatric trainees and better holistic care for patients. This was the culmination of years of work, and I congratulate everyone involved in delivering a successful programme for our future paediatricians.

In March 2024, Dr. Camilla Kingdon ends her three-year term as President, and Professor Steve Turner will take up the next tenure. I want to thank Dr. Kingdon for her dedication and wish Professor Turner all the best as he starts his Presidency.

With the College’s current strategy ending soon, I look forward to seeing what the College can achieve as it plans a new 2024–27 strategy for publication later this year.

I wish you all the best in delivering for your members and children and young people.

HRH The Princess Royal

From our archives

The College’s journey began almost a century ago when paediatrics was in its infancy in the UK.

The British Paediatric Association (BPA) began in 1928 as a small group of doctors working to improve the health and welfare of children. A major focus was the annual meeting, where scientific discussion and a round of golf went hand in hand.

The BPA slowly grew and during the Second World War the Association’s activities increased dramatically due to its involvement in safeguarding the health of a child population undergoing mass evacuation. The advent of the NHS brought new challenges as paediatric consultants were needed across the country, while advances in medicine led to more emphasis on preventative paediatrics.

Over the years, the BPA made significant contributions in areas such as paediatric training, the welfare of children in hospitals and reporting on child health matters. Progress continued towards the end of the 20th century with growing involvement in areas such as medicines prescribed to children.

Through the years, the idea of a Royal College was suggested several times. There were numerous challenges but in 1996 the charter was granted and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health was born. Significantly, it became not a college of paediatricians, but of paediatrics and child health. The College has greatly evolved since the first meeting of six doctors in 1928 but its primary aim to improve the health and welfare of children has remained the same.

Our archives contain over 5,000 records about the history of the British Paediatric Association and RCPCH from its inception in 1928 to the present day. Our catalogue is available via the RCPCH website and we welcome visitors to view archive records by appointment.

For more information or to enquire about donations or consulting our records, please contact information.governance@rcpch.ac.uk.

A message from our President

I love the opportunity to stop and consider the successes and challenges of a past year! It is very easy to rush on into a new year, only thinking about the work that lies ahead. However, we have so much to learn and celebrate from 2023.

The joy of reviewing a year is that one is required to systematically consider everything one has done in a year. And you know what? 2023 was a challenging year but we’ve achieved a huge amount. There are so many great examples of excellent work from a wide range of groups that it is a real pleasure to acknowledge and celebrate. The very formality of doing that is important and worthwhile.

So – it is with great joy and pleasure that I write this foreword to the 2023 Annual Review. This reminds me of our Fellowship and Membership ceremonies which the College runs three or four times a year. These events are the highlight of my calendar because they are days of unadulterated joy and happiness – and that is a rare thing these days! For many, attending the ceremony marks the relief of passing the MRCPCH exams and the joy of celebrating with family and friends. For others, it is a moment of genuine pride in being a paediatrician and taking the time to stop and enjoy the moment with family – often from far and wide. Being a paediatrician is something very special. Working with children is a privilege and these themes come through so strongly at these College ceremonies.

One of the greatest privileges of being College President is that I get to see and sample so much of what is being described in the pages of this Review. This year I joined our Global Team on a visit to Nepal to meet our Nepali colleagues

and see and hear about the work that RCPCH is undertaking in partnership with the Nepali Paediatric Society. The work and achievements of our Global Team are deeply inspiring and a huge source of pride to us all.

Another jewel in the RCPCH ‘crown’, is our Children and Young People’s engagement group, RCPCH &Us. Incredibly, the children, young people and family volunteers pop up everywhere! They were front and central to the recruitment of Rob Okunnu as our Chief Executive Officer. The RCPCH &Us Climate Changers were fundamental to the Child Health Inequalities and Climate Change Toolkit that was launched in October 2023. They play very important roles in our national audit programmes. They have worked their way into everything we do and we have benefitted enormously from their work and contributions!

At the end of the day, RCPCH only exists because of its over 22,000 members and it has been the highlight of the past year to get out and about meeting fellow paediatricians both in the UK and internationally.

We have so much in common – but also have fascinating differences that make us richer collectively. Whether it has been meetings in Belfast or Colombo, I have had the warmest of receptions, plenty of healthy check and challenge, and always lots to laugh about! I love the sense of humour I find everywhere amongst paediatricians. I think we all recognise that laughter is a tonic and despite tackling very difficult, challenging and sometimes sad issues, we keep our spirits up by remembering to laugh every now and again.

I believe these themes run through our 2023 Annual Review. I have enjoyed my time as RCPCH President. In March I will be handing the reigns to Professor Steve Turner. I am truly proud of what we have collectively achieved and the impact we are making on children’s health and wellbeing, both in the UK and internationally.

Dr Camilla Kingdon, RCPCH President Consultant Neonatologist, Evelina London Children’s Hospital

RCPCH Conference 2023

Glasgow, Scotland

A message from our CEO

It’s always welcome to look back and see what we’ve been able to achieve. Uncertainty was a continuing theme in 2023 but we approached our work with determination, holding fast to our mission and vision. The College stands tall, championing paediatrics and child health.

Having the opportunity to be part of the College as CEO is a valuable experience. Although the year has seen a challenging external environment, we have been able to rapidly respond and make discernible strides. It helps to keep perspective by horizon scanning, which positions us for longer term planning and sharpens the outlook on what opportunities and possibilities there may be. The world has changed and is changing and we want to make sure we can keep up with that.

We are now in the final phase of our 2021–24 strategy, which has been beneficial in helping describe our focus and activities over this period. Big picture concerns such as workforce, pressure on services, tackling health inequalities and other areas are very much front of mind. We have learned much, which will aid us as we prepare for the next three-year strategy.

The College is unique and the Annual Review vividly shows why. There are so many highlights such as successful launch of Progress+ and making inroads with our Thrive Paediatrics initiative to help the working lives of paediatricians. We are advancing our advocacy, voice and programmes of work in areas such as child health services, health inequalities, climate change, equality, diversity and inclusion to name but a few. As we reflect on the year, we can celebrate the

progress we have made across our work in areas covering education and training, research and quality improvement, audits, policy and external affairs, membership, our children and young people engagement and global humanitarian programmes.

The year saw us attaining recognition in awards, with our #ChoosePaediatrics programme winning a significant MemCom Excellence Award for the Best Member Engagement or Recruitment Strategy. We also achieved Bronze Accreditation from Investors in Environment recognising our actions and commitment to continuous improvement in our sustainability aims.

The College is an enormous force for good nationally and internationally. We are successful because of the hard work and dedication put in by the vibrant community of members, children and young people, staff, and trustees working together. We are grateful also for the range of external stakeholders that we collaborate with.

Thank you to all involved in the collective effort to improve health outcomes for children and young people.

Rob Okunnu CEO

James Spence Medal

Professor David Edwards

President Camilla Kingdon presented Professor David Edwards with the 2023 James Spence Medal at RCPCH Conference in Glasgow. Professor Edwards is a consultant neonatologist at the Evelina London Children’s Hospital and Professor of Neonatal Medicine at King’s College London. He has a 40-year career in which he has made an enormous impact not just on the survival of babies, but on the quality of life of some of the sickest newborns cared for in neonatal units around the UK and internationally.

Professor Edwards was the driving force behind the research and implementation of therapeutic hypothermia for neonates. This intervention is now used globally and has been found to double normal survival and dramatically decrease health care costs.

David has also pioneered the use of MRI scanning to image the smallest and sickest babies and pregnant women. His work has led to improved diagnosis and prognosis, to improve care for babies as well as introducing novel patient-orientated outcome measures for premature babies.

Honorary Fellows

Honorary Fellowship is awarded to a small number of people who are considered by our members to have made a major contribution to paediatrics and child health through research, education, clinical service and leadership.

Professor Lisine Tuyisenge

President and Head of the Rwanda Paediatric Association

Professor Viv Bennett

Former Chief Public Health Nurse, retired

Dr Arvind Shah

RCPCH Strategic Regional Adviser for South Asia

Dr Carol Roberts

Former RCPCH Member Trustee and member of Invited Review Board

Dr San San Oo

Consultant Paediatrician Co-founder Better Burmese Healthcare Programme

Professor Nick Bishop

Chair in Paediatric Bone Disease, former RCPCH Vice President for Science and Research

Excellence in paediatrics

Every year we recognise our members for their outstanding work in research, patient engagement and clinical practice. Here are our 2023 winners.

Junior Trainee of the Year joint winners

Dr Qasim Malik

ST3 Paediatrics & Education Fellow

Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust

Dr Kamla Pillay Clinical Research Fellow

Centre for Neonatal and Paediatric Infection, St George’s University, London

Senior Trainee of the Year

Dr Saba Hussain

ST8 Paediatric Grid Trainee in Community Child Health

Sirona Care & Health, Bristol

Educational Supervisor of the Year joint winners

Dr Najette Ayadi O’Donnell

Consultant General Paediatrician in Adolescent Health and Complex

Safeguarding University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Dr Rachel Howells

Consultant Paediatrician

Royal Devon University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Dr Felicity Fitzgerald

Recognised for her work in Zimbabwe to improve recognition and outcomes of neonates with suspected sepsis

RCPCH-NIHR PIER

(Paediatric Involvement and Engagement in Research) NIHR Clinical Research Network Portfolio studies. The research team based in Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge

Simon Newell award

Pictured from left to right–Matthias Zilbauer, Claire Glemas, Robert Heuschkel

RCPCH in 2023

Our mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of children and young people (CYP) across the world, by supporting paediatricians, shaping policy and improving practice. In this review, we share a sample of these activities from across the College. Members and staff working collaboratively to advance our mission. Some of this work has led to policy changes at the highest levels of government.

RCPCH responds to NHS England’s three-year delivery plan for maternity and neonatal services

RCPCH responds to Stormont budget and what this means for children and young people in Northern Ireland

RCPCH publishes new guidance on capability based progression in paediatric training

RCPCH responds to the UK Government’s plans for a smokefree generation

RCPCH launches action in support of the Clean Air (Human Rights Bill) introduced in the Westminster Parliament

RCPCH/NPPG publishes a new guideline on medicine safety

RCPCH responds to health data in latest Children’s Commissioner for England’s report on children seeking asylum

RCPCH supports development of open letter calling on all political parties to recognise the importance of clean air

RCPCH publishes a summary of children and young people’s perspectives on how to tackle climate change

RCPCH Scotland responds to Programme for Government and calls for further details on support for children

RCPCH Wales responds to Welsh Government’s decision not to extend school meals during holidays

Senior members meeting at Lake Windermere

Education and training

2023 saw an increase in education and training activities despite some of the challenges leftover from lockdown. Many of our members have had to wait for exam openings or could not sit for them at all, but efforts made through better technology, member volunteers and staff has seen improvements.

We were pleased to re-open exams in Newcastle and Pakistan. There was also an increase in attendance at our member ceremonies with an average of 250 members attending with their families, some travelling great distances to celebrate.

“Since I’ve joined the RCPCH I haven’t regretted it for a second! I was welcomed into a friendly environment where everyone looks out for each other and supports one another – which is the epitome of paediatrics. One aspect of my role at the College consists of promoting aspiring paediatricians of the future and supporting them on their journey towards becoming a member of our wonderful paediatric workforce. I work very closely with our Officer for Recruitment and our Trainee Representative for Recruitment to produce a range of resources to support aspiring paediatricians under a great programme – #ChoosePaediatrics. I also play an active part in the College’s staff network – Racial Equity and Cultural Harmony Network Committee to raise awareness on race and ethnicity and promote cultural harmony.”

Careers and Training Recruitment Administrator, RCPCH

Henna Dave

“When I sit in the office surrounded by clinicians and staff at the Exams and Assessment boards, I am reminded once again why we do what we do. For me, the RCPCH exists with a single-minded purpose to ensure that a child is looked after, and the way in which that child is looked after matters.

The corollary is simple for me; the better it is for the paediatrician to record their evidence accurately, fairly and quickly, the better their chance of effective reflection to learn and grow as a paediatrician. Unfortunately, as simple as we try and make things, the world is complicated and the environment in which we work to support members to look after children is complicated.

I spend hours talking to staff and clinicians about what we can do, what we should do and how we do it. Whether this is for the clinical exam and its future, the START assessment and how that develops, the ePortfolio and where that adds value, or any of the plentiful committees on which I sit – my task is to try and introduce effective simplicity where I can.”

Associate Director for Assessment, RCPCH

Steve Beglan-Witt

#ChoosePaediatrics

Our College Strategy 2021-24 outlines two strategic aims that speak to the recruitment and training of our members. This year our recruitment campaign saw a double digit increase in applicants and an award-winning engagement campaign. But we know this is not enough. The College has fed into numerous workforce consultations since 2021 such as the DHSC NHS Pension Scheme and responses to the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan.

11,903

registered RCPCH eLearning users

Wellbeing and Innovation Networks (WINs)

Work is underway as part of the RCPCH Thrive Programme with regional member volunteers to develop two pilot WINs over the next two years to build local communities where paediatricians come together and draw from each other’s experiences to activate change.

Workforce evidence and advocacy

A new online workforce evidence library collates paediatric workforce information across the UK – both from RCPCH and publicly available sources –with interactive maps and additional data sets to support members, decision-makers and other stakeholders in workforce planning.

The Paeds Round podcast

The Paeds Round podcast channel launches in partnership with Medisense. This new series is for all paediatricians and those working in child health interested in hearing about the important issues in paediatrics and practical clinical insights.

NHS Long Term Workforce Plan

The RCPCH has been calling for a multi-year, evidence based and costed NHS workforce plan for some time. A customisable guide outlining three key areas policymakers should consider when taking forward the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan for child health was published.

3,443

online learning packages completed

2,910

4,759

in Paediatric training

1,932

applicants for ST1, ST3 and ST4

MRCPCH Clinical Exam in Rawalpindi, Pakistan

We introduced the MRCPCH clinical exam in Rawalpindi, Pakistan in September 2023. Demand for MRCPCH in Pakistan has grown over the last 10 years. Clinical Assessment teams established contacts in early 2019 but were delayed due to COVID-19.

Progress+

Our new two-level, run through specialty programme went live in August. Progress+ is more flexible allowing trainees to have more control over their learning programme. Alongside our Paediatrician of the Future guidance, Progress+ supports trainees to understand the 11 Training principles, guides schools in the application of these principles and to truly embed and normalise the concept of capability-based progression.

ST1-4 trainees

Research and quality improvement

Advancements in child health are not possible without an investment in child health research. Improvements in care are not possible without clear standards, measurement of quality and the capability and capacity to improve.

We work with teams across all four nations to offer objective advice to improve clinical services and quality of care.

This year we collaborated with NHS England and the Royal College of Nursing on a single national Paediatric Early Warning System (PEWS) for England. We went a step further and developed a patient safety portal where health professionals explore patient safety theory and learn to drive improvements in paediatric patient safety.

We have been in conversation with the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to open more possibilities for child research. This year, we announced a new initiative that will offer significant funding to address some of the most challenging issues in paediatrics. Led by our Vice President for Science and Research, Professor Paul Dimitri, this programme enables members to provide clear and identifiable benefit and impact in child health outcomes.

We are also excited about the many opportunities for research through our collaboration with the NIHR, Genomics England and other health organisations. Our motive is clear: to support advances in child health through active participation in research across mental health, public health, social care and more. We also recognise the important value research places on the career and education of our members.

“I joined RCPCH in November 2022 after a career working in quality improvement and applied research. Having worked on a range of programmes and evaluations into what works (and doesn’t) in improving health, I am convinced of the importance of true collaboration between clinicians alongside children and young people. The College is perfectly placed to support this, and its impressive track record in harnessing collaborative improvement is why I joined the College.

This ranges from supporting quality improvement (QI) programmes, such as the Epilepsy Quality Improvement Programme, QI linked to our Clinical Audits, our Medicines for Children work, and our support for our member’s QI work at our annual conference. Collaborative partnership with children, young people and parents/carers is a core part of all this QI work.

The other area that inspired me to join the College is the opportunity to support improvements in safety for children and young people. We have been supporting healthcare safety for many years, from the pioneering Situational Awareness for Everyone (SAFE), to our Invited Review Service and supporting the Systemwide Paediatric Observation tracking (SPOT) programme. In 2023, we launched a new Patient Safety Portal, providing a one-stop shop for all things related to paediatric patient safety.”

Head of Quality Improvement, RCPCH

Jonathan Bamber

Patient safety

We have been involved in clinical audits for nearly two decades. Our expertise is trusted by NHS trusts across the UK, providing better insight to improve clinical practice and service delivery standards.

British Paediatric Surveillance Unit (BPSU)

Our work with the British Paediatric Surveillance Unit ensures that doctors and researchers can investigate and gain access to studies about rare diseases. We worked with the University of Dundee Health Informatics Centre to develop a new platform to collect data on rare diseases, held a Rare Disease Day attended by clinicians and patient groups and have been involved in more than a dozen studies and research projects that we have been reporting on since 2020.

Epilepsy12

Our Epilepsy12 audit published in July 2023 with insights into the diagnosis and care of CYP with epilepsy. Four key messages were shared: holistic care, equitable care, care within education and identifying those areas where there has been limited improvements in care. Our work invites case studies from across England and Wales to feed back on quality improvement activities that improve the care of CYP living with epilepsy.

1.3

2 Million Over

downloads of Medicines for Children resources from every country in the world

Interactive mobile app

Resources to help children and young people

Medicines for Children received charity funding to enhance our resources for children and young people with medical conditions including heart defects, heart disease, rheumatism and arthritis.

Medicines for Children’s new personalised, interactive mobile app for families has been worked on throughout 2023 and is now ready for testing with families. The app will help parents/carers to manage their children’s daily medication regime more easily and safely.

18,622

unique sessions on QI Central and EQIP

GeNotes

RCPCH co-hosted two webinars with Genomics England and held a month of Genomic programmes in collaboration with Genomics Education Programme which saw the launch of GeNotes, a practical and educational tool for clinicians. This resource helps clinicians learn about different genetic tests, the benefits and limitations of these tests and the approach for selecting the appropriate test for their patients.

Our member community

Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) continues to be a key strategic priority for the College. Within the last year we have closed out our ‘Working for Change’ programme, achieving a majority of the objectives we originally set out.

Our focus now shifts towards our new strategic plan ‘Making EDI Everybody’s Business’. Focusing on four key areas, we are improving our diversity data collection, upskilling and educating our staff on EDI, advocating for both our members and children and young people and further supporting those within paediatrics. As part of this we have been running a reciprocal mentoring programme between College Officers and underrepresented members, so they can share lived experiences and learn from each other.

“The reciprocal mentoring program is one such opportunity where College officers and members share their journeys and their lived experience within and outside of their defined roles. The aim is to become ‘partners in progress’ as the college champions building diverse and inclusive teams.

Through our reciprocal mentoring meetings, Dr Jonathan Darling and I were able to explore the concept of hidden curriculum – the ‘unwritten’ values and perspectives of medical education and practice in the UK and a factor in differential attainment of international medical graduate (IMG). As a facilitator in a peer led MRCPCH teaching program, I support sessions for my IMG colleagues, sharing my experiences of preparation and dealing with challenges of the exams.

Stories from Jonathan’s experience as an educator have helped me provide more helpful feedback to my IMG colleagues and address the ‘hidden curriculum’ in their exam preparation.”

Paediatric Oncology Trainee

ST6 and RCPCH Mentee

Dr Neelakshi Ghosh

VP Education and Professional Development and RCPCH Mentor

Dr Jonathan Darling

23,000 Nearly

members

30

countries

Found in more than exam volunteers

More than

2,000

Child health policy

We advocate for children and young people to ensure that their needs are considered and that their voices are heard.

In 2023, we expanded our health inequalities campaign to examine how climate change exacerbates child health inequalities via unequal exposure, capacity to adapt, food systems and eco distress. Our position statement shares evidence and policy recommendations with the four UK Governments to make child health central to climate policy development. Influencing UK government health policy is key to fulfilling our mission of improving child health.

We published a policy briefing outlining our recommendations to address the rise in youth vaping, which informed our response to the UK Government’s consultation to create a smokefree generation and tackle youth vaping. The College launched a campaign calling for a ban on disposable vapes, which led to widespread media coverage. This joint work had an influence on policymaking, and led to the UK Government announcing a ban on disposable vapes and other measures to prevent youth uptake of vaping.

We also published our manifesto ahead of an expected UK General Election. We called on our government to prioritise the needs and wellbeing of CYP through better policy.

This is underpinned by five pillars:

(1) A focus on child health services;

(2) Support for the paediatric workforce;

(3) Greater ambition on prevention;

(4) Ensure every child is protected;

(5) Harness the power of data and digital.

“Despite having been at the College for four years, the breadth of policy work I’ve had the opportunity to lead on has been incredibly wide ranging. I started as Policy Manager working collaboratively with members to oversee both the child protection and health improvement portfolios before focusing solely on the second. My role is to identify issues impacting on children and young people’s health in the UK and develop evidence-based policy solutions to recommend to UK Government and other key decision makers that would enable them to take action to improve child health outcomes. Working closely with paediatricians means we can spot emerging child health concerns and understand what good looks like to enable the College to be at the forefront of policymaking, from tackling the rise in youth vaping to highlighting the impact food of insecurity.

A personal highlight of working at the College to date has been to lead the cross-College child health inequalities programme. #ShiftTheDial launched as the College’s landmark campaign to address child health inequalities in the UK and advocate for better outcomes in children and young people’s health. Its first phase focused on highlighting how poverty influences children’s health and wellbeing. The new policy position statement outlines the evidence of how poverty is a driver of health inequalities and provide recommendations on how to reduce child health inequalities. This enables the College to influence all four UK Governments and policymakers into taking action, as well as providing key

lines to take for the College’s media and public affairs work. Such collaborative efforts means I have the privilege to help cement RCPCH’s position as an authoritative voice in child health policy.”

Policy Manager – Health Improvement and Health Policy, RCPCH

Olivia Lam

Our work in the Devolved Nations

Scotland

Our Officer for Scotland provided oral evidence to the Education, Children and Young People Committee on the Children and Young People (Transitions to Adulthood) Bill which fed into the developing legislation. Oral evidence was also submitted to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee providing pivotal information on sport and physical activity. RCPCH Scotland was invited to become members of the Scottish Government’s National Transitions to Adulthood Strategy Working Group which supported Scottish Government in the development of the associated Strategy. RCPCH Scotland also informed the Scottish Government’s Early Child Development Transformational Change Programme on nutrition and new pathways to improve early child development and prevent harm.

Wales

Our Officer for Wales provided oral evidence to the Children, Young People and Education Committee following engagement on equal access to education for children with disability influencing the direction of Welsh Government on this matter. RCPCH Wales was also invited to become a member of Welsh Government working and partnership boards to inform the long-term mental health plan, Disability Rights (Children and Young People) and Food & Nutritional Standards respectively.

Northern Ireland

Our Officer for Ireland was invited to inform the development of the Academy of Medical Sciences UK-wide early years report, he was also welcomed to join the NI Children’s Commissioner Advisory Panel to represent Health and is advising on their Corporate Plan 2023-27. Our Deputy Officer took part in the Department of Health Advisory Group on Enabling Safe, Quality Midwifery Services and Care in Northern Ireland calling for better connectivity with neo-natal and paediatric networks. Several of our recommendations were taken forward in the Department of Education Corporate Plan 2023-28 on nutritional standards and wellbeing following consultation.

RCPCH in the media

Through our media, public affairs and social media activity we influence the public agenda and try to achieve real change for paediatrics and child health. This year has been incredibly active; we’ve trebled our media coverage, met with a wide range of key opinion leaders, such as parliamentarians, and increased our impact on social media.

More than

40

mentions in UK parliament

5M

social media impressions

100,000

followers across all channels

coverage across all national papers

9,000 Over

media mentions

93

written statements across the UK

Global child health

Our work is unique among Medical Royal Colleges because we incorporate both leadership in clinical standardsetting and a wider engagement with the health of children, wherever in the world they live. The exchange in clinical practice and education equally benefits our members and our partner countries.

Myanmar

There are neonatal mortality programme facilities in 21 hospitals in four regions. RCPCH has worked in partnership with the Myanmar Paediatric Society for over a decade – supporting quality improvement across the country’s hospital network, and driving down avoidable mortality.

Rwanda

With support from UNICEF and James Percy Foundation, Rwanda Paediatric Association and RCPCH developed the ‘Rwanda Neonatal Care Programme’ (RNCP) covering 12 government hospitals across the country and focusing on facility-based quality-of-care improvement.

Nepal

RCPCH Global, in consultation with the Nepal Paediatric Society (NEPAS), UNICEF and the Nepal Ministry of Health, launched a new programme, building on experience in supporting emergency paediatric care in Southeast Asia. This programme is designed to support system strengthening and quality improvement across a provincial network of district and referral hospitals.

Sierra Leone

RCPCH Global has worked in Sierra Leone since 2009, before the Ebola outbreak in 2014-15. RCPCH Global and UNICEF Sierra Leone, with the authorisation of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation Child Health Team, agreed a new collaboration to design and carry out a single-district observational assessment of the quality of delivery of the national Integrated Management of Newborn and Childhood Illnesses.

Lebanon

We recently started a new programme in Lebanon in partnership with Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS), the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), and the Palestinian Disability Forum (PDF) to focus on three prevention areas for Palestinian children living in refugee camps across Lebanon. This includes strengthening the quality of perinatal and neonatal care, reviewing existing neonatal, infant and child monitoring practices and enhancing referral process for children with disability/ developmental problems to local organisations providing therapeutic care.

Climate change

Tackling climate change is a strategic priority in the current RCPCH Strategy.

We have a College-wide commitment to tackling climate change and have been undertaking actions within the climate change programme for almost three years, supported by over 80 enthusiastic members. We have had significant impact in this time, including our top ranking in the climate and health scorecard which ranked Royal Colleges’ efforts.

As a result of building our reputation on this topic, a stakeholder reached out and put us in touch with the Clean Air Fund, suggesting our aims were aligned and highlighting us to the Clean Air Fund as a health leader – just as they were setting up their new health grants programme. We were successful in securing this funding, which is bringing significant extra capacity so that we can expand our ambitions, giving opportunities for paediatricians to come and work with us on this topic as clinical fellows.

The project objectives include advocating for the influence of child health professionals on the national and international climate change agenda, educating RCPCH members on air pollution and sustainable healthcare, and advancing research to emphasise the right of all children to breathe clean air, amplifying the voices of those in the most affected communities. Our vision is for child health and children and young people’s voices to be a central driver for mitigation and adaptation actions to tackle climate change and air pollution, and for child health professionals in the UK and internationally to be equipped with the tools and skills they need to champion policy change for cleaner air.

The funding has also allowed us to appoint a dedicated Climate Change Project Coordinator, to lead the working groups, coordinate a network of child health advocates, connect with national and international networks, organise global initiatives and share best practices.

Clean Air Human Rights Bill

We held a campaign for members to support the Clean Air Human Rights Bill as it passed through the Westminster Parliament, inviting our members to write to their MP in support of the Bill –140 members took part.

Investors in Environment

We formally started our journey to net zero and successfully passed our first audit by Investors in Environment, achieving bronze status.

Preserving the World for Future Generations

We published Preserving the World for Future Generations – a research report of around 100,000 young people’s views on climate change, including voices from RCPCH &Us roadshows collected over the past two years from across the UK.

RCPCH &Us

RCPCH has always had a children and young people’s rights-based approach, guided by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

RCPCH &Us launched in 2015. The name, brand and mission of the group was decided by the young people and families involved. We started with 10-30 children, young people and family members and as of today, 11000+ have been involved through digital and in person sessions across the UK, even having our first take-over of the Milestones Magazine in Winter 2022.

What our volunteers have to say:

“Hello, everyone! I’m Aishwarya. Over the past few years, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to collaborate with RCPCH &Us on a diverse range of projects and initiatives. Among my deepest passions is the integration of technology into paediatric healthcare, and I’m excited to witness how this will enhance the work of RCPCH &Us in the future!”

“My name is Xai. I decided to volunteer to attend an RCPCH &Us workshop. I immediately loved it and wanted to attend another event as soon as possible. RCPCH &Us helps me gain a voice that many children struggle to have in their home lives, or even school. I’ve gained some very important life skills doing this. The staff make it a fun and enjoyable experience that makes you always want to return.”

1,588

volunteer hours

1,128

CYP volunteers in 2023

130

different sessions online or across the UK

Health based projects

Social action projects to inform decision makers about children, young people and family priorities from experiences of epilepsy, asthma, diabetes and other medical conditions.

Improving health experiences

Volunteer training professionals, sharing expertise, creating solutions, lobbying, creating materials and resources.

Roles in Governance

Experts by experience are equal members on boards and committees, raising issues or concerns from the view of health experienced children, young people or parents/carers, to advocate on their behalf.

Awards and Recognition

We run a national voice champion award for paediatricians, nurses, allied health professionals that support the RCPCH &Us Programmes.

RCPCH &Us Academy

We provide training for children, young people and parents/carers volunteering with RCPCH &Us with programmes this year on media skills, group facilitation and leadership.

A message from our Treasurer

It has been a great privilege to serve as College Treasurer. It has been one of the most rewarding, and at times challenging, experiences of my career. The role has been made easier by the knowledge, skills and commitment of all the staff, officers and members who have supported me.

As I come to the end of my five-year term as RCPCH Treasurer, I am pleased to be able to handover to my successor the College in a strong financial position. This is despite the significant global economic challenges and more local inflationary pressures.

Our income has been broadly in line with previous years, with increases in our two core income streams. Membership has increased, with a rise in member numbers, and income from assessment has continued to recover, following losses during the pandemic. To reduce our dependence on our traditional income streams, we have started to look at ways of diversifying our income, exploring new funding streams, such as renting out part of our premises on Theobalds Road. At the same time, we have worked on how our staff can work more efficiently whilst maintaining their high quality of work.

The work we’ve done has ensured that our financial year 2022/23 ended with healthy reserves – this is the money that protects the college from risk, for unexpected events, and allows us the flexibility to respond to new challenges.

Our financial position has enabled a programme of investment allowing us to improve our member experience, develop our work on policy and advocacy for children and young people and project work , as well as continue to develop our core functions. We have made significant investment in digital technology to improve technical capacity, which will support work right across the College. Members should see benefits in their day-to-day interactions with the College and on the website.

Dr Liz Marder RCPCH Treasurer

Consultant Paediatrician in Community Child Health and Neurodisability at Nottingham Children’s Hospital

Inside our College

In 2023, our People and Culture team introduced several initiatives like our eLearning platform which supports staff and manager induction journeys along with providing a range of CPD opportunities.

Additionally, we put in place awareness programmes that speak to the diversity of our staff like embracing the benefits of those who are or may be neuro-divergent. Training for managers has also been provided plus neurodiversity awareness sessions were included in the annual staff conference. Menopause awareness sessions have also been introduced to inform staff of the support available to them, and improve awareness and understanding of perimenopause and menopause.

Staff members were recognised with a MemComms Excellence Award for Best Recruitment or Engagement Strategy for our #ChoosePaediatrics campaign.

“Only when I joined in April did I really start to appreciate the breadth of work and commitment of staff at the College. One of our core values is Innovate and it is clear to see we do this in abundance. As a new employee I can see the huge opportunity I have to develop my career, as well as have the freedom to bring new ideas and thinking to the table as we start work on a new College strategy.”

Learning and Development

Business Partner

Gary Bennett

A message from our Chair

Board of Trustees

The quality and diversity of our Board is one of the College’s great strengths. The expertise around the board table enables the College to deliver its mission for members, children and young people.

This year the Board welcomed two new Trustees including our new Youth Trustee. The diversity of voices on our Board is a huge asset I value greatly, and I am very grateful to all the Trustees for their continued dedication to the effective management of the College. Their wise counsel has enabled us to continue to meet our charitable objectives during challenging times, while remaining financially sustainable.

I would also like to thank College Officers, the hundreds of volunteers and our staff for their commitment as we continue to be a leading voice in child health. It was very satisfying to see the launch of our new curriculum Progress+ this summer which aims to make paediatric training more flexible and fulfilling. We also made significant contributions to the debates on vaping, child health inequalities and climate change and the work on #ChoosePaediatrics received well deserved external recognition.

The energy of our volunteers and College staff continues to encourage the entire Board as we support paediatricians and promote child health into the future.

Joanne Shaw Chair of RCPCH Board of Trustees

Joanne Shaw

Chair

Dr Camilla Kingdon President

Professor Steve Turner Registrar

Dr Liz Marder Treasurer

Taona Makunganya Youth Trustee

Dr Tsitsi

Chawatama-Kwambana Member Trustee

Professor Sir

Terence Stephenson Member Trustee

Dr Bhanu Williams

Member Trustee

Dr Sunil Bhopal

Member Trustee

Adam Igra

Independent Trustee

Simon Meredith

Independent Trustee

Sarah Watson

Independent Trustee

Serving as a Youth Trustee

As a medical student, my passion for paediatric care continues to grow. It propels me to seek new ways to contribute meaningfully to the field.

My aspirations are simple: I aim to help bridge the gap between theory and action, advocating for children’s health with vigour. The role of a Youth Trustee is a fantastic platform to align my desire to catalyse change, amplify voices of children and young people, and champion their cause within our healthcare systems. It is a great joy to translate my diverse experiences into tangible action, enriching the College’s decisions with the lived experience of marginalised groups, and advocating fiercely for the most vulnerable in our society. Beyond my studies, I find inspiration in the arts, travel, and music, widening my understanding of the world.

In the role, I work towards bringing a fresh perspective to the board’s oversight of RCPCH’s endeavours. I’m here to learn, to absorb the wisdom of all the expertise walking all areas of the College, and to contribute my fervour to discussions.

I want to champion initiatives that elevate paediatric care to realistic progress, always with an eye toward a more inclusive and brighter future for all children.

I am eager to grow and contribute my energy to innovative dialogues. I hope to refine my skills in governance, communication, and advocacy, knowing that these lessons will not only shape my tenure but also guide my future as an advocate for global healthcare equality.

I embark on this path with gratitude and a commitment to the best interests of paediatricians and their patients. I am inspired by the promise of meaningful change, one step at a time.

Warm regards,

Taona Makunganya RCPCH Youth Trustee

RCPCH

Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

Leading the way in Children’s Health

Annual Review 2023

Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

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