Reflections and thoughts from the President and Chair
Presidential reflection:
consolation and generosity at the heart of nursing
Children’s nursing, and I would argue all fields of nursing, are at their best when technical competence and skills, respect, partnership working, and respect are imbued with generosity and kindness. It is always important but particularly so in situations where children, young people and their families are facing loss. In such situations nurses can reach out to children, young people and families and bridge a gap, offering the gift of consolation – a way of making loss bearable.
The act of nursing is an act of giving, and that act is generous when we give of ourselves and do not expect anything in return.
Arthur Frank, in his book ‘The Renewal of Generosity’ (1), talks beautifully and deeply about the importance of generosity and how the circumstances of contemporary healthcare can demoralise people and negatively impact the settings in which they work.
Our intentions to be generous practitioners, teachers, managers, leaders, researchers, and colleagues can be eroded by the pressures and constraints in which we work. Our actions and responses can become more uni-dimensional, shutting out people’s loss and pain. By not being generous, we can protect ourselves from being hurt but we also limit what we can give. As a patient or family member or colleague, we can feel the difference between ‘good-enough’ and ‘generous’ care and engagement.
Kindness is inextricably linked to generosity. Kindness is a trait and a virtue and so much more. It is multifaceted, ‘woven into the fabric of nursing’ (2), strengthening connections, recognising our shared humanity and strengthening therapeutic relationships. In a world where some people perceive being kind as being weak, I would argue that it is core to who we are as nurses and as people.
Despite the challenges we all face in our personal and professional lives, I urge you to be kind and be generous. They are essential to nursing babies, children, young people and their families. Kindness and generosity are essential to each and everyone of us.
Professor Bernie Carter, ABPN President, bernie.carter@edgehill.ac.uk
1. Frank AW. The renewal of generosity: illness, medicine, and how to live. Chicago: University of Chicago Press 2004. 2. Frangieh J, Chow S, Rodney T, et al. Kindness beyond care: an integrative review of kindness in the nursing profession. Contemporary Nurse 2025;61(1):77–95. doi: 10.1080/10376178.2024.2426693
Words from our Chair
As we settle into this new year of 2026 my hope is that members of the ABPN, their families and wider networks have had the best start possible in relation to health, peace of mind and life’s positive opportunities. My heart and mind are alongside those whose lives are being affected by uncertainty and are being impacted by circumstances beyond their control.
My pledge is to continue with the important work, vision and values of the ABPN and to provide strong, effective, kind and emotionally intelligent leadership in my role as ABPN Chair. I will do this by listening carefully to the issues being raised by ABPN members on behalf of the babies, children and young people they care for every day of the year.
The ABPN Governance and Development (G&D) group and ABPN working groups identify priorities and agree actions relating to the many important issues raised by ABPN members and colleagues from a range of organisations and networks. Many of these issues are raised in meetings and webinars.
At the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Birmingham, 24th March 2026 we will review the progress made from the key action points raised at the Strategy Day and World Café held in 2025. We will also hold our Awards ceremony. Huge congratulations to everyone who is being honoured for their work and dedication to improving and transforming services for babies, children, young people, their families and the teams that support them.
Following the AGM, we will host a World Café on ‘Preparing, educating and developing the children’s nursing workforce for the future’. This will assist us to keep children’s nursing, and the education and training of children’s nurses and wider teams, front and centre in the minds of governments, educationalists and service providers. The ABPN will maintain a strong message to keep children’s rights and trauma-informed approaches at the heart of ABPN’s work.
The ABPN continues to grow its membership and to enhance ABPN members’ experience by continuing to listen to members, develop policy and to provide educational webinars. Those who have contributed to our webinars have provided outstanding, relevant and contemporary resources for ABPN members and the wider community.
Adopting a focus on all four countries of the UK, the ABPN has produced timely position statements addressing the likely impact of decisions on children, families and care teams of current/proposed, decisions and policy. Our aim is to avert any adverse impact on the quality of life of babies, children, young people and their families, and that are relevant to clinical practice and nurse education. By working closely with our members and wider networks, we will continue to engage and work in partnership to determine future responses to issues.
As Chair, I send warm and sincere thanks to all the members of the ABPN. Your excellent and continuing commitment to the ABPN is very much appreciated. Please be assured that your contributions can make a significant difference to the quality of healthcare experienced by babies, children, young people and their families across the four counties of the United Kingdom and beyond.
Thank you and very best wishes, Jean.
Dr Jean A Davies, Chair jean.davies@bangor.ac.uk
Save the date
Annual General Meeting and World Cafe 24th March 2026
Members are warmly welcomed to join our Annual General Meeting.
Date: 24th March 2026 Time: Annual General Meeting starts at 11am, followed by lunch and then the World Cafe Where: In person at Studio, 7 Cannon Street, Birmingham B2 5EP or remotely via Microsoft Teams
Our venue has been chosen to be comfortable for those who attend in person and will have great IT and connectivity for those joining remotely.
Building on a recent webinar, our World Café is titled ‘Preparing, educating and developing the children’s nursing workforce for the future’
There are a limited number of places available.
Members wishing to attend who have not yet responded to Jean's letter should email as soon as possible to book a place.
Non-members may attend if places are available for a small fee (£25) to cover lunch and refreshments.
For more information and to enquire about available places, please contact abpnmembership@gmail.com
Nominate your children’s nurse hero
Nominate your children’s nurse hero
Who is the children’s nurse who inspired you, shaped your journey, or showed you what amazing care looks like?
The Association of British Paediatric Nurses is celebrating children's nurses during 2026 and is seeking names and if possible photographs of the children's nurse that inspired you.
We look forward to hearing from you - email us on abpnmembership@gmail.com
Meet the Team: Ellie Forbes, Honorary Secretary, Designate
Ellie Forbes is our Honorary Secretary Designate. She will take over from Robin Hyde in March 2026. Robin has done an amazing job over the past few years.
Ellie Forbes, Senior Lecturer, Programme Lead for Children's Nursing, University of Lincoln
It is an honour and privilege to accept this role and thank you very much indeed for this opportunity. I have proudly been a member of the ABPN since 2008.
I have nearly 30 years of experience as a Registered Children's Nurse, including 17 years dedicated to Healthcare Education. I bring a deep commitment to advancing Children and Young People's Nursing, and fostering collaborative practice.
For the past eight years, I have served as Lead for Children's Nursing at the University of Lincoln. This role has enabled me, with colleagues, to shape curriculum development, support academic excellence and champion the development of future practitioners whilst advocating for the visibility and value of our specialty locally and regionally.
During my career I have worked with dedicated, enthusiastic, inspirational CYP Nurses and leaders, as well as with Children and their families who are at the heart of what we do.
I believe the role of Honorary Secretary offers a unique opportunity to support the Chair and Governance & Development Board in shaping the future of our profession.
As Dr. John Trainer (2012) so powerfully stated: “Children are not a distraction from more important work. They are the most important work.”
This belief underpins my professional ethos and drives my dedication to ensuring that Children and Young People’s Nursing remains at the heart of our collective efforts.
I am looking forward to working with you!
Meet the Team: Sherice Malcolm, Website Lead
Meet Sherice Malcolm, who is our newly appointed website lead. She takes over this role from Bernie Carter
Sherice Malcolm, Course Leader for Children's Nursing, University of West London
Firstly, I would like to wish all the members of the Association a Happy New Year.
In the spirit of new beginnings, I would like to introduce myself. My name is Sherice Malcolm, and I have been newly appointed as the Website Lead for the ABPN - a role I am very pleased to have.
I have been a qualified paediatric nurse for over 10 years, with experience in numerous clinical settings, including general paediatrics, theatres, adolescent mental health and safeguarding, both in the NHS and private healthcare. I am currently working in the Higher Education sector as a Course Lead in Children’s Nursing at the University of West London.
With a professional commitment to advancing children’s nursing and a deep appreciation for the importance of accessible, evidence-based information, I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to support the association’s digital presence and ensure that our online platform reflects the excellence and values of our community.
In previous professional roles, I have contributed to the development, review, and organisation of online content, with a focus on ensuring accuracy, clarity, and relevance. I look forward to contributing to strengthening our website so that it becomes a trusted, dynamic, and user-friendly resource for all who use it.
I wish all our members a wonderful and prosperous 2026.
Meet the Team: Adoabi Okoli and Bethany Dennis
Meet Adaobi Okoli and Bethany Dennis who we have welcomed into membership of our Communications and Raising the Profile Working Group.
Adaobi Okoli, Student Nurse, Children’s Nursing, University of Greenwich
My name is Adaobi Okoli, and I am currently a student nurse specialising in children’s nursing at the University of Greenwich. I joined the January 2025 cohort and am based at the Avery Hill Campus.
Before beginning my university studies, I served as a Youth Secretary in my local community. In addition, I worked closely with children in schools, where I actively participated in organising youth-focused programmes, supporting peer development, and promoting health awareness among children and young people. These experiences strengthened my dedication to child welfare and inspired me to pursue a career in children’s nursing.
My decision to enter nursing was motivated by a genuine passion for children’s health and advocacy. I have consistently been drawn to roles that involve nurturing, educating, and supporting young people and their families. Nursing, therefore, felt like the ideal avenue for making a meaningful difference in their lives.
I am delighted to be a member of the ABPN Communications and Raising the Profile Working Group. I look forward to contributing to initiatives that emphasise the significance of paediatric nursing and help elevate its visibility within the profession and beyond.
Bethany Dennis, PICU Nurse, Birmingham Children’s Hospital
Hi, my name is Beth (she/her). I am a PICU nurse at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
My journey in healthcare started at the age of 11 when I got involved in patient advisory groups, co-production and youth led creation of services. This led me to be very passionate about young people having an equal partnership to professionals and their lived experience being valued.
This inspired me to start my training to become a children’s nurse. When doing my degree, I was shocked by the lack of education on topics that I knew were important such as barriers young people face, LGBTQ+, mental health, what is it actually like to have a learning disability and more.
This led to the creation of a few projects such as Healthcare Flashcards co-created with young people, peer support student nurse led training and more.
I am excited to join the team of people who are part of the Communications and Raising the Profile Working Group!
Updates from the ABPN
Make sure we can keep in contact with you
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Update on our Enhancing Membership Working Group
The number of student members is increasing across 1st year, 2nd and 3rd Year students. Following the ABPN AGM, undergraduate students completing a programme to be a registered children’s nurse are eligible for free membership for the duration of their programme. Information has been circulated to Nurse Lecturers and via social media.
Engagement of retired members has been discussed with the proposal to develop a ‘chatter club’. The proposed development is on hold until logistic issues have been resolved. If you are interested in assisting with this development or joining an ABPN ‘chatter club’ please email abpnmembership@gmail.com
If you would like to get involved in the Enhancing Membership Working Group or you have suggestions about how best to engage with you, email Fiona.smith15@yahoo.com who will pass your email to the chair Michael Tatterton, ABPN Fellow.
Update on our Policy Development Working Group
The Policy Development Working Group continues to be busy behind the scenes. The group continues to keep abreast of the progress of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill with the aim of ensuring that the specific issues relating to young people are not overlooked during the debates.
Please do check out the series of documents on ‘safe staffing’ available on our website - which aim to provide you with the evidence-based nursing workforce requirements for health services accessed by children and young people.
If you’re interested in finding out more or in joining this working group, please get in touch with the Working Group Chairperson katrina.mcnamara@icloud.com
Update on our Communications and Raising the Profile Working Group
The Communications and Raising the Profile working group has been extremely busy drafting both planned and proactive press releases such as ‘World Adoption Day’ and ‘International Day of Persons with Disabilities'. Other activities include gathering information for the newsletter and organising the free ABPN, open to all, webinar programme which is continually being updated with new presentations and discussions. If you have suggestions for future webinars, please email the chairperson fiona.smith15@yahoo.com
Many students are joining the ABPN webinars. We plan to hold specific student webinars once logistic issues have been resolved. If you have suggestions for interesting topics, we would be delighted to hear from you.
We have warmly welcomed Adaobi Okai, Bethany Dennis and Sherice Malcolm to the Communications and Raising the Profile working group.
We are seeking additional members to participate in our activities, particularly in relation to identifying and scheduling topical webinars, working with journalists, the development of podcasts, our website and social media activity. If you are interested in learning new skills and being involved, please contact the chairperson fiona.smith15@yahoo.com
Have you found other resources that maybe helpful to other ABPN members? If so, please let us know so we can share with others in future newsletters, please email fiona.smith15@yahoo.com
Free student membership
We welcome new students to the Association.
We offer free student membership for all students studying on an undergraduate CYP programme leading to RN Child registration. This free membership is for the duration of their programme.
This is a fantastic offer, so if you’re a student who meets the criteria, don’t hesitate to apply at membersabpn@yahoo.co.uk and/or check out our 'Become a member webpage
Press Releases and Media Activity
We have issued the following press releases since the publication of our last newsletter
Check out the ABPN website to keep up to date with further ABPN media activity
Update on our Social Media Drive
Our full backlog of webinars are now live on our YouTube channel. We’ll be regularly updating our YouTube with each webinar as they come out so keep your eyes peeled for any you may have missed.
Don’t miss out on all of the content we’ve mentioned and much more. Follow us and contribute on:
Nursing voices: stories from students, qualified and retired nurses
In this section we hear from Patricia Roberts, a student nurse at Edge Hill University.
The Future of Nursing: A Reality Check for Student and Newly Qualified Nurses.
Patricia Roberts, Student Nurse - Child (Jan 23 cohort), Edge Hill University.
The recent changes in government rules and wider NHS policies have not just rattled the system they’ve created real uncertainty for those of us entering the profession.
On my final placement, I spent time with children’s nurses who were newly qualified, and what struck me was the confusion and fear hanging over them. These weren’t the usual nerves about starting a first job or consolidating three years of training. These were concerns about something much bigger: whether there would even be jobs to step into.
Traditionally, nursing has been seen as a profession that’s always in demand. Healthcare is 24/7, and so is the need for staff. So, imagine the frustration of completing a degree, surviving the hardest three years of your life, and then being told there are no available jobs and that you may have to work in completely different sectors just to keep up with the cost of living. It’s a shock that no one prepares you for.
While this isn’t an issue that can be fixed at local level, student nurses do need to be aware of it. It means looking beyond the three-year course and recognising that the job market has become more competitive than ever. As tough as nurse education already is, students now need to consider taking on extra courses and independent training to stand out to employers.
The versatility that nursing is known for has not disappeared but the lack of funding and limited budgets for new staff have created a level of competition that shouldn’t exist in the first place. It’s not that there aren’t enough nurses; it’s that the system isn’t opening enough jobs for them. Every student must now make extra effort whether through additional skills, specialist interests, leadership opportunities, or community involvement to improve employability.
This is also why getting involved in organisations like APBN and other nursing societies matters more than ever. Having representation for students and newly qualified nurses ensures our concerns are heard by the people who have the power to influence change. If we want the future of nursing to look different, then we need to be part of the conversations shaping it.
Another thing student and newly qualified nurses need to consider is flexibility. Nursing isn’t a rigid profession; you don’t have to land your ‘dream job’ straight away. In the current climate, being open to different areas, even if they aren’t your first choice, can make all the difference. The important thing is getting into the system, keeping your PIN active, and building experience. Once you’re in, it’s easier to move into other specialties.
Things may feel uncertain now, but by making extra efforts, adaptable and engaged, we can still contribute to the field in other ways and build the careers we’ve worked so hard for.
Focus on charities and groups
Youth Involvement Bank
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust’s, Lived Experience Service runs the Youth Involvement Bank.
Yasemin, a Youth Involvement Bank Contributor, explains more about Youth Involvement Bank, her contributions and what she has gained from her engagement.
The Youth Involvement Bank is an outlet for children and young people to use their own experience within services to improve the care and treatment for current and future young people. This is important because hearing the voices of real people, who are experts by experience, is the key to developing person centred care and improving the quality of services from the ground up.
In my time as a contributor for the Involvement Bank, I've had the privilege of participating in key activities, such as a staff interview panel, attending a nursing conference, contributing to a research study and virtual discussions which directly influence the development of new projects. Through these experiences I feel like my voice has been heard and I have acquired new skills, including building confidence in discussions with professionals and other service users in addition to improving my self esteem which has in turn provided clarity for both my personal and educational aspirations.
I would highly recommend this to somebody who is passionate about bettering services and feels their voice can make a real difference.
Barrie Wells Trust: Box4Kids
Nominate a deserving young person for a VIP experience!
The Barrie Wells Trust and its main initiative Box4Kids was founded and funded by philanthropist Barrie Wells MBE to give seriously ill and disabled children the chance to enjoy unforgettable days out from the comfort and safety of an executive box. Since its launch in 2010 to date, Box4Kids has helped make memories for over 25,000 guests facing childhood illness.
With access to executive boxes in over 150 major UK venues, Box4Kids offers a wide range of incredible complimentary sporting and entertainment events, including Premier League football, chart-topping concerts, theatre, The Jockey Club, motorsport, rugby and much more!
Box4Kids supports young people experiencing a physical illness or disability which is serious or life-limiting. A child must be aged between 8-18 to attend a Box4Kids sporting event, or 6-18 to attend a Box4Kids entertainment event or Jockey Club Family Day (minimum age limits can occasionally be lowered for specific entertainment events).
The Trust is eager to continue this mission of inviting as many deserving young people to attend unforgettable VIP events as possible! If you know of children and families who would benefit from the opportunity to attend a Box4Kids event, you can nominate them yourself via our secure online nomination form or share the form with families for them to nominate their child directly. (All nominations must be made with full consent from a parent/guardian)
Opportunity to contribute to a consultation
Digital technologies to support asthma self-management
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is producing guidance on Digital technologies to support asthma self-management. The Medical Technologies Advisory Committee has considered the evidence and the views of clinical and patient experts.
You can now comment on the draft guidance consultation document. It summarises the evidence and views that have been considered and sets out the recommendations made by the committee. NICE invites comments from registered stakeholders, healthcare professionals and the public.
ABPN Webinar Series
Details of our future webinars are presented below with the links for booking. It’s a simple process and it’s free, so please do look and join some fascinating sessions.
Links to our previous webinars can be found on our website
Paediatric Urgent Care Module: Supporting Staff to Care for Children Safely in primary and secondary care settings
- Date and time: 5th February 2026 16.00-17.00 (UK time)
- Presenter: Ellie Forbes, MSc PGDEd PGDipPICU DipTropNurs RNChild FHEA Senior Lecturer/ Programme Lead for Children's Nursing
Managing children in primary care and secondary settings is challenging, complex and rewarding. Care may not always be delivered by paediatric trained staff but staff who are skilled in their clinical environments (ANPs, GP Practice Nurses, Paramedics, UCC, ED); increasingly, however, more paediatric trained staff are also wanting to refresh and update their skills.
This webinar will focus on the background to the module inception following poor CQC rating. Ellie will share how her prior skills and knowledge from PICU, Scotland and DGH management, led to the module conception and being developed for, and with, local staff.
Key topics will include:
- Global teaching and CYP priorities
- Moving away from didactic teaching delivery to partnership learning approaches
- Improving confidence in staff, leading to examples of improvement in practice
Supporting Children with Complex Disabilities: A 24-Hour Postural Care Approach
- Date and time: 9th February 10.00-11.00 (UK time)
- Presenter: Sarah Clayton, BSc PGCE
Does your child or the children you support struggle with poor posture, discomfort, or difficulty maintaining healthy positioning throughout the day and night? Join us for an informative and practical webinar on 24-hour postural care, designed for parents, caregivers, and professionals working with children who have complex disabilities.
What you’ll learn:
- What 24-hour postural care is and why it matters
- How positioning particularly at night impacts a child’s health and well-being
- Practical strategies for improving posture
- How to identify poor positioning and make adjustments
- Common challenges and solutions for better support
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how simple postural care strategies can enhance comfort, reduce complications, and improve daily life for children with complex needs.
Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Care
Date and time: 12th March 2026, 16.00-17.00 (UK time) Presenter: Liz Purnell, Teenage Cancer Trust Lead Nurse for South Yorkshire North Lincolnshire, and North Derbyshire.
In this webinar we will provide a brief overview of teenage and young adult brain, the role and function of the TYA team and how we work, holistic needs assessment, and end of treatment summaries.
From clinic with love
- Date and time: 15th April 2026, 16.00-17.00 (UK time)
- Presenter: Mrs Jo Dalton (retired) RGN, RSCN. Diabetes Nurse Specialist for children and young people.
Jo will share some of the background to the Inspirational Postcards journey and how a 'note to self' can help and support a person to keep going with positive self-care.
She plans to share the idea of using Inspirational Postcards as an engagement tool with children and young people with any long-term condition where day to day self-care can feel like a heavy burden at times.
From Small Beginnings to Big Discussions: Simple Conversations, The Foundation of Transition in Hospice Care
Date and time: 21st April 2026, 16.00-17.00 (UK time) Presenters: Angela Horsley MBE and Dr Sheonad Laidlaw, Specialty Doctor and Clinical Lead for the Young Adult Service, Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice, Glasgow
The importance of early identification of young adults who would benefit from transition to an adult hospice and how early discussions with the young adults helps to ensure a smooth process. The importance of identifying and mapping all the services that the young adult uses in the children and adult environment, whilst highlighting the role of co-ordination of multi-disciplinary team discussions. A discussion around the need for future planning and treatment plans for this group of vulnerable individuals who are at risk of sudden deterioration.
Training, Education and Other News
We welcome ideas and contributions to our training, education and other news pages.
So, if you’d like to share any training or education resources and updates, please contact fiona.smith15@yahoo.com
Journal of Child Health Resources
The Journal of Child Health Care is the Association's journal. It is published by Sage and it is full of brilliant articles. It makes for great reading and a good place to publish your own papers.
Apart from great editorials and high quality peer reviewed papers, the Journal of Child Health Care produces fantastic JCHC podcasts, hosted by Associate Editor, Liz King. These podcasts focus on authors talking about their research and the papers published in the journal.
The latest Editorial from the JCHC is titled ‘Shining a light on pain’ focuses on the importance of ensuring that our education provision addresses the importance of including information about pain assessment and management in healthcare curriculums and within continuing professional development. It is an interesting and important read
The latest podcast is by Constantinos Kanaris and is called 'Tribalism in healthcare: See it. Stop it. Sorted'
Babies, Children and Young People (BCYP) Nurse Mentoring Network
The Babies, Children and Young People (BCYP) Nurse Mentoring Network is a ‘national platform for BCYP nurse leaders and aspiring nurse leaders from across all settings to connect, share, and support one another.
It has been commissioned by the NHS England Talent Teams, and it is ‘built on reciprocity—you give and you gain.’
Whether you're offering mentorship or seeking guidance, this is your space to grow professionally and contribute to the future of BCYP nursing leadership.
BEAT: Free online training and resources for schools
Did you know that research has shown that the earliest opportunity to prevent eating disorders is at school? Our School Professional Online Training – or SPOT – is key to being able to spot the signs of eating disorders and be able to spread awareness in your school. SPOT is currently funded for school professionals (including school nurses) in primary, secondary and sixth form schools across the UK.
Making data count
A series of 10 free training modules are available to help you use data more effectively. Each module is 1 hour long and delivered remotely via Teams. Participants earn 1 CPD point and can request a certificate of attendance. This training is hugely popular as it provides participants with the tools and knowledge to use data more effectively to improve services and is delivered in an engaging, fun and interactive way.
Any member (globally) is able to access the training and you can request details simply by putting your e-mail address in the link below and clicking on ‘submit’. After members have submitted their email address they will receive an invitation to join the Making Data Count Workspace on the FutureNHS Collaboration Platform. Once members have joined the Making Data Count workspace they will be able to access the training sessions from the site.
Spotting the signs of sepsis; a series of short videos
Produced by Patient Safety Learning, in collaboration with The UK Sepsis Trust, these provide a quick and simple resource for patients, carers and clinicians.
The videos include: Spotting the signs of sepsis in adults and young people (1 minute); Spotting the signs of sepsis in school-aged children (90 seconds); Spotting the signs of sepsis in children under five years old (2 minutes) and Sepsis risks in rural communities (5 mins)
HCUK Events
As a member you can get 20% off a series of great events and conferences events that are run by HCUK such as the ones mentioned below
Any suggestions?
If you know of other training or education resources and updates that maybe helpful to other ABPN members, please let us know so we can share with others in future newsletters.
Email details to fiona.smith15@yahoo.com
Update on policies, guidelines & reports
Families with young children will be offered protection against chickenpox as part of their routine childhood vaccinations.
The NHS’s vaccination programme is being expanded to include chickenpox (also known as varicella) for the first time to help shield young children from getting seriously ill.
From January 2nd 2026, GP practices will start to offer children a combined MMRV vaccine at 12 months and 18 months of age to add chickenpox to the protections against measles, mumps and rubella. This will replace the MMR vaccine that protects against measles, mumps, and rubella.
Research shows that chickenpox in childhood results in an estimated £24 million in lost income and productivity every year in the UK and, alongside cutting this, the rollout is expected to save the NHS £15 million a year in costs for treating the common condition.
Routine screening for newborn babies for Hereditary Tyrosinaemia Type 1
'Hereditary Tyrosinaemia Type 1 (HT1) is a rare, genetically inherited disorder that affects around 7 babies per year in the UK. Left untreated, it can lead to severe complications such as organ damage and liver failure and the need for a liver transplant. This condition will now be screened for, in the blood test that babies get on the fifth day after they are born, taken from the heel.'
CQC warns lack of investment in community services risks ‘erosion’ of care quality
'The CQC warns that too many children and young people cannot access timely, appropriate, or coordinated care. Despite local innovation, national system pressures, workforce shortages, and uneven commissioning are widening gaps in care. The report calls this a “critical risk to the next generation’s health and wellbeing.”'
Parents supported to navigate early years misinformation online
'The new Best Start in Life campaign will bring together trusted NHS and government-backed guidance to help parents with everything from feeding time and sleeping to speech and language, child development, and finding local childcare and family support.'
Major drop in GP antibiotic prescribing
'New government data reveals a significant milestone in the fight against antimicrobial resistance. General practices in England issued 1.1 million fewer antibiotic prescriptions in 2023 to 2024 compared to the previous year – a 3.2% reduction on 34 million prescriptions that saved the NHS £6.3 million in annual drug costs.'
'NICE support this national effort to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use through guidelines such as the pneumonia guideline which recommends babies and children between 3 months and 11 years of age with non-serious pneumonia should be offered a 3-day antibiotic course instead of 5 days. Evidence shows the shorter treatment is equally effective while helping to tackle antibiotic use.'
Ensuring safe maternity and neonatal services in Scotland
'A new taskforce has been announced to strengthen oversight of provision following the publication of Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s (HIS) inspection report on Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.'
Government extends free NHS services for care leavers
A new package of measures brought in by government (23 December 2025) for young people leaving care will provide free prescriptions, dental and eyecare services up to their 25th birthday, and enhanced job opportunities in the NHS.
A new pilot to trial paid internships for care leavers in the NHS and a guaranteed interview scheme for NHS roles will break down barriers of opportunity and help more young people leaving care into work.
Landmark junk food ad ban to protect children’s health
Government delivers on pledge to restrict junk food advertising and help parents raise healthiest generation of children ever.
New regulations will remove up to 7.2 billion calories from UK children’s diets each year as part of drive to reduce childhood obesity.
Children will be protected from excessive exposure to unhealthy food adverts on television and online.
Lester Tool updated to better support the monitoring of physical health for young people aged 14-17 experiencing psychosis
'The Lester Tool is a guide for health workers to assess the cardiometabolic health of people experiencing psychosis and schizophrenia - has been updated to include an additional intervention framework for young people aged 14-17.'
'We know that people living with severe mental illness sadly die 15 to 20 years younger than the general population, largely due to preventable or treatable physical illness. In the case of young people with first episode psychosis, this update provides an important opportunity to better support and improve their health more holistically.'
Parent led, therapist-supported therapy.
'A parent-led, therapist-supported online therapy showed similar reductions in anxiety among children compared with standard care, usually cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). The researchers say the online therapy could be a cost-effective way to improve access to treatment.'
Learning Disability Professional Senate Briefing: Required actions to address implementation failure for people with a Learning Disability
'In the UK, an estimated 349,000 people aged under 18 years, and 1.2 million adults have learning disability. The senate highlights 7 key actions to address the implementation gap.'
Government acts to tackle rising childhood obesity epidemic
'The government underlines its commitment to get children heathier and more active following new figures revealing the scale of the childhood obesity problem.'
Independent ADHD Taskforce final report (updated)
'The independent ADHD Taskforce has published its final report. It builds on the interim report by describing how the recommendations to transform ADHD services can be implemented.'
'The transformation requires systemic changes at national, regional and local level. This includes government departments, health, education, employment and the criminal justice system. Co-design and co-production of transformation should include people with ADHD and their families/carers.'
Child Death Review Data released for the year ending 31 March 2025
'The data in this report summarise information about child deaths in England up to 31 March 2025, and the findings of reviews carried out by a Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP) on or before 31 March 2025.'
'For reviews completed in the year ending 31 March 2025, 17% of children were known to social care at the time of their death. For reviews completed by CDOPs in 2024-25, 3.8% of the deaths were subject to a local or national Child Safeguarding Practice Review.'
Abortion Law Review in Scotland
An independent report by an expert group set up to review the current law on abortion in Scotland was published on 14th November 2025. The Abortion Law Expert Group was commissioned following a Programme for Government commitment for 2023 -24 to independently review the existing law and ensure that abortion services are safe and treated first and foremost as a healthcare matter for women.'
Public bodies in Wales will be legally bound to consider the long-term health implications of their decisions
'From 2027, local authorities, NHS organisations, national parks and cultural organisations like the National Museum and National Library will need to carry out health impact assessments when making decisions of a strategic nature.'
'HIAs will make sure physical and mental health impacts are consistently taken into account when public sector organisations develop new policies or projects. This includes decisions made in areas which are known to impact long-term health outcomes, such as housing, transport, education, employment, culture and the environment.'
Early intervention can prevent young people reaching crisis point with their mental health
'The Hangout in Barry has been running an Alternative to Admission pilot scheme, with funding from Welsh Government, which supports children and young people at risk of experiencing a mental health crisis.'
'The Hangout, delivered in partnership with Platfform, provides a walk-in service for young people aged 11 to 18, offering drop-in support, wellbeing sessions, group activities and volunteering opportunities without the need for a referral.'
'The pilot scheme aims to prevent young people needing emergency department attendance or hospital admission by providing access to mental health and wellbeing support without the need for a referral.'
Children face higher heart risk from COVID-19 infection than from vaccination, study shows
'New findings from the British Heart Foundation Data Science Centre reveal that the rare risk of heart inflammation in children is far higher and longer lasting after COVID-19 infection compared to after vaccination — offering reassurance to families and policymakers.'
NHS-approved game fights childhood anxiety in Devon
'A therapeutic mobile game designed to tackle childhood anxiety is reportedly driving positive mental health outcomes in Devon. In particular, children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) have seen significant outcomes after accessing the service.'
Soft drinks levy extended to protect children and improve health
'Soft drinks levy will be extended to cover more products, including sugary milk-based drinks. Changes could cut 17 million calories a day from the nation’s daily intake, helping to prevent cancer, heart disease and stroke, and take pressure off the NHS.'
New programme of support announced for Additional Learning Needs in Wales
'A package of support designed to help learners and families navigate the Additional Learning Needs (ALN) system has been announced, following a review of ALN legislation, listening to families and learnt lessons from delivery across Wales. This includes a new ALN parent and carer toolkit, which has been published and developed collaboratively with parents, carers, and professionals.'
'The toolkit provides a range of resources to explain how the ALN system works, outlines the support available for children, young people and parents, as well as setting out their rights under ALN legislation. The toolkit and all supporting materials are available in accessible formats, including British Sign Language (BSL) and Easy Read and available in English and Welsh.'
Young people in Wales to receive new information about women’s health
'All secondary school pupils will be able to access new education materials designed to help increase understanding about common women’s health conditions: menstrual health, endometriosis, pelvic health, and menopause.'
Emergency paediatric surgery - Child Health Clinical Outcome Review
'Right Place, Right Time, Right Team contains a number of key findings relating to multiple aspects of care such as training, regional networks, care pathways, and timely access to services. It states that, while many of the findings appear reassuring, there are three areas of care that can be improved.'
Landmark law in Wales is protecting children and changing attitudes
'The Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020 came into force in March 2022.'
'An evidence review published recently reveals encouraging progress with high awareness, positive support, and a shift in attitudes.'
Online safety: women and girls
'Ofcom has published new guidance setting out actions for technology companies to take to improve women and girls’ online safety. The guidance focuses on harms disproportionately affecting women and girls and highlights how these can inhibit their safety and participation in online spaces and normalise misogynistic attitudes and behaviours.'
'The nine areas of action centre around taking responsibility, designing services to prevent harm and providing support to users. Actions include: ensure governance and accountability processes address online gender-based harms; conduct abusability evaluations and product testing; and enable users who experience online gender-based harms to make reports.'
HQIP: Eating Disorders: Service Mapping Report 2025
'The audit found high levels of multidisciplinary working and strong uptake of NICE-recommended therapies. However, it also revealed significant variation in access, service configuration, and waiting times across regions and age groups. Findings such as these offer vital insight into areas requiring targeted improvement, and provide a benchmark for tracking progress in the next phase of the audit.'
Paediatric critical care audit 2025 - Paediatric Intensive Care Audit Network (PICANet)
'This report describes key metrics and outcomes related to transport and admission events in order to monitor the delivery and quality of care against agreed standards, and evaluate clinical outcomes, to inform national policy in paediatric critical care.'
'It also includes three national recommendations that highlight the evolving landscape of paediatric critical care - shifting from treating children with acute, short-term sickness to supporting a growing number living with lifelong conditions.'
Online blackmail
'NSPCC Learning has published new research on parents’ and carers’ knowledge of the online blackmail of children and young people. Based on a survey of 2,558 UK parents and carers, the report explores knowledge of online blackmail, steps taken to keep children safe, and information and support needs.'
'Findings include: 1 in 10 parents and carers have supported their child with online blackmail; most parents and carers feel responsible for protecting their children from online blackmail but face challenges in talking to or supporting their child; and two thirds of parents and carers think the government and technology companies are ineffective in preventing online blackmail. The report calls for the development of further resources for parents and carers, and for more to be done to prevent online blackmail and support children and young people.'
Violence against women and girls
'The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has launched its five-year strategy for tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) in England and Wales. The strategy is centred around CPS priorities, setting out plans to increase casework quality when handling VAWG cases and increase trust in the CPS handling of VAWG cases.'
'The CPS’s VAWG strategy includes crimes of child sexual abuse and exploitation; ‘honour’-based abuse, forced marriage, and child marriage; and female genital mutilation (FGM) and other harmful practices. Work will include: developing and rolling out new VAWG training modules for staff; reviewing and updating guidance on ‘honour’-based abuse and VAWG prosecution guidance; and piloting an improved service to all victims of crime who have their case charged by the CPS.'
Family hubs
'The Department for Education and Department of Health and Social Care have published guidance to help local authorities in England prepare for the delivery of Best Start Family Hubs (BSFHs) from April 2026.'
'BSFHs will provide support to all families with children aged 0-to-19-years-old. They will help families facing more complex challenges by helping to identify emerging problems and opportunities for early support.'
'The guide includes: a framework to help identify appropriate BSFH sites, including prioritising access for disadvantaged families where possible; the definition of a BSFH and the core services expected to be available; and information on Best Start local plans and how these will interact with BSFH funding and neighbourhood health plans.'
Artificial Intelligence
'The UK Safer Internet Centre has created new educational resources on the safe and responsible use of AI ahead of Safer Internet Day 2026. The resources have been designed for use with children and young people of different age groups from 3 to 18-years-old. The resource packs, available in Welsh and English, include presentation slides and activities.'
Children educated at home
'NSPCC Learning has published a report exploring some of the challenges local authorities face to safeguard children educated at home. The findings are based on a review of UK literature, data from a Freedom of Information request, interviews with local authority home education teams, and insights from Childline and the NSPCC Helpline.'
'Key findings include: many families choose home education because mainstream schools are unable to meet their children’s needs; Elective Home Education teams are under-resourced to meet the needs of a growing cohort of home-educated children; and the child’s voice is under-represented in local authority practice.'
'Recommendations for the Department for Education include: update and strengthen national guidance to reflect the scale and nature of home education; and provide stable and sufficient funding for local authorities to safeguard and support home educated children.'
Children and violence
'The Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) has published a new report exploring children’s experiences of violence in England and Wales as part of its annual Children, violence and vulnerability research.'
'The YEF surveyed nearly 11,000 13- to 17-year-olds about their experiences. Findings include: physical assault was the most common type of violence experienced; while half of the teenagers in the survey said they had witnessed violence in person, even more said they had encountered it online with 70% seeing real-world violence shared on social media in the past year; and 82% reported seeing social media posts about harming specific groups such as migrants or people of certain ethnicities or sexualities.'
'The report includes calls for social skills training, mentoring and sports programmes to help reduce violence in the real world and help children navigate content online.
Family support services
'The Centre for Young Lives has published its second report on the provision of Best Start family hubs in England.'
'The report highlights the range of local factors that can impact on early childhood development including access to high quality childcare and early education, wider support for families and the extent of deprivation.'
'In partnership with local authorities and experts, the report identifies six principles for delivering a successful network of hubs, including: a single front door approach to support and an integrated local system; family support where the voices of children and families are heard; and family support that is embedded into communities. The report calls for the government to establish a statutory basis for the family hubs that brings all existing family support under one Best Start family hub legislative framework, with a duty placed on local partners to work together to support families through hubs.'
Independent review into mental health conditions, ADHD and autism: terms of reference
'The review will seek to understand: the factors behind trends in prevalence; the impact of clinical practice, including social and cultural factors and the risks and benefits of medicalisation, ways to promote the prevention of mental ill health; and ways to create resilience and improve early intervention.'
'Professor Peter Fonagy will chair this review, supported by Professor Sir Simon Wessely and Professor Gillian Baird as vice-chairs. There will also be a multidisciplinary advisory working group to directly shape the recommendations and scrutinise the evidence.'
Child poverty
'The UK government has announced the launch of a new strategy for reducing child poverty. The strategy brings together information about the action that the government has already taken, alongside new measures to increase family incomes, reduce essential costs and strengthen local services to try to address the root causes of child poverty and provide immediate support to families living in poverty.'
'The aim is to lift an estimated 550,000 children out of poverty by 2030. The strategy is UK-wide, although some policies and measures apply to specific nations only. Alongside the strategy, there is a monitoring and evaluation framework and various supporting documents including research and analysis.'
Roundup of Reviews & Articles
In this section we pull together a roundup of reviews and articles that have been published in the last four months.
Current trends in art and design for paediatric wellness in built environments (2020–2025): a thematic review
This review aimed to ‘examine recent studies linking design strategies to paediatric well-being’.
Twenty-five studies were included.
Five themes were identified: '(1) biophilic and nature-based design, (2) playful and interactive environments, (3) sensory and emotional design, (4) inclusive and family-centred design, and (5) aesthetic, cultural, and identity-oriented design.'
The review identified the ‘need for cross-thematic integration, greater child participation in design, rigorous post-occupancy evaluation, and exploration of smart technologies to create more restorative, health-supportive environments for children’.
When a child lives with atopic dermatitis: an integrative literature review on parental experience
This integrative literature review ‘examined how a child’s atopic dermatitis affects parental functioning’.
Fifty-four studies were included.
Three foci were identified ‘parents as workers, individuals, and caregivers’.
The findings show that ‘atopic dermatitis often disrupts parents' careers, causes emotional strain, family burden, and sleep issues. Parent-child interactions may also be affected, potentially impacting the attachment bond’.
A systematic review on children's participation in healthcare from a child's perspective
This systematic review aimed to ‘explore child participation in healthcare from the child's perspective’.
Twenty-eight studies were included in the review.
Six themes were identified: ‘being able to decide how to act in the situation; communicating with health professionals; being adequately informed; being allowed to make decisions; unfamiliar venues, parental obstruction and children's needs not being considered; and security, comfort and space.
This review identified a gap in knowledge on pre-school-aged children's preferences in participation in healthcare situations.
Interprofessional collaboration for children with physical disabilities: a scoping review
This scoping review aimed to ‘explore current knowledge on interprofessional collaboration for children with physical disabilities from the point of view of the actors involved’.
Twenty-nine studies were included.
Four themes were identified ‘communication, knowledge, roles, and culture in interprofessional collaboration’.
The findings show that ‘interprofessional collaboration is affected by how these four themes appear; they mainly act as barriers and, to a lesser extent, as facilitators for interprofessional collaboration’.
Crying wolf, alarm safety and management in paediatrics: A scoping review
This scoping review aimed to provide a 'contemporaneous evidentiary overview of neonatal and paediatric studies investigating alarm-related patient safety and alarm system management.
Thirty-seven studies were included.
Most papers ‘explored alarm burden associated with physiological monitoring’ and alarm definitions were reported in 46% of studies; 32% of studies considered alarms in relation to clinical outcomes surrounding patient safety, clinician response to alarms was only reported in 19% of studies.'
'Alarm and monitoring interventions were assessed in 51% of included studies, with categorization into six domains: changing alarm parameters, clinician education, communication and planning, technology, alarm ordering and standardization or guidelines’.
Acute mastoiditis in pediatric cochlear implant patients - a systematic review
This systematic review aimed to 'propose a diagnostic and treatment algorithm by analyzing common symptoms, incidence, microbiology, and management of AM in pediatric CI patients.'
Twenty studies were included.
Findings show that the 'incidence of AM in this cohort was 1.7 %, with a mean age at the time of AM diagnosis of 45.9 months. Most cases occurred within the first year after CI surgery, with Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Haemophilus influenzae identified as the most common pathogens.'
'Treatment predominantly involved intravenous antibiotics (i.v. AB), with ceftriaxone being the most commonly administered AB. Surgical interventions ranged from grommet insertion, incision and drainage to revision-mastoidectomy or in two cases (2.3 %) even explanation, depending on the severity and course of the infection. Radiological imaging was primarily performed if there was a clinical suspicion of subperiosteal abscess with the need of surgical intervention.’
Health technologies and infrastructures for supporting home-based pediatric palliative care: scoping review
The aim of this scoping review was to ‘systematically map the literature on health technologies and infrastructures to support communication in home-based PPC’.
Forty-one publications were included.
The findings show that '29.3% (12/41) of the publications, the researchers applied user-centered phased-design approaches to develop health technology for PPC. Children with cancer were most often studied in the publications.'
The 'most frequent delivery of health technology for communication in home-based PPC combined asynchronous and synchronous modes (19/41, 46.3%).'
They also found that the 'most frequent health technology apps for communication in home-based care were symptom monitoring apps (15/41, 36.6%), video technology (8/41, 19.5%), and health monitoring and video technology (3/41, 7.3%). Smartphones (14/41, 36.6%), internet and Wi-Fi (12/41, 29.3%), computers or laptops (9/41, 22%), and tablets (9/41, 22%) were the most frequently reported infrastructures’.'
The incidence and prevalence rates of pressure ulcers in the paediatric population: A meta-review of systematic reviews
The aim of this meta-review was to examine the ‘incidence and prevalence rates of pressure ulcers in paediatric populations, to place in context the scope of the problem in this cohort of patients.’
Five systematic reviews were included in this review.
The findings show that ‘three types of pressure ulcers were discussed in the included studies: hospital-acquired pressure ulcers, medical device-related pressure ulcers, and tracheostomy-related pressure ulcers.'
They conclude that ‘pressure ulcers are a concern in paediatric populations, with comparable incidence and prevalence rates between hospital-acquired and medical device-related pressure ulcers. Children with tracheostomies face a significantly higher risk of developing pressure ulcers, highlighting the need for tailored preventive interventions.’
Exploring cultural adaptation elements in child health knowledge translation tools for parents: A scoping review
The aim of this scoping review was to ‘identify and map available evidence on cultural adaptation elements incorporated into child health knowledge translation (KT) tools for parents’.
Twenty papers were included.
The findings show that ‘three main types of cultural adaptation elements were described: (a) language, (b) visual representations, and (c) cultural values.
The 'most common child health conditions of included studies were autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and asthma.'
Further exploration of cultural values and their inclusion in KT tools is needed to meet the information needs of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) families.’
Evidence summary for pain management during Retinopathy of Prematurity screening
This review aimed to ‘summarize the best evidence for pain management during ROP screening and provide a reference for the clinical practice of medical staff’.
Eighteen articles were included.
Ninety-two ‘pieces of evidence were extracted and categorized into five dimensions: multidisciplinary pain management teams for ROP screening, pain assessment, non–pharmacological interventions, pharmacological interventions and pain documentation.
Twenty–five evidence–based recommendations were finally formulated’.
Establishing consensus on the breakthrough pain assessment questionnaire-self report for typically developing children and young people (8-25yrs) with Life Limiting and Life-Threatening Conditions: an international e-Delphi study of expert healthcare professionals.
The goal of the current study was to 'refine the self-report version Breakthrough Pain Assessment Questionnaire (BTPAQ-SR) through an international, sequential, electronic-Delphi process.'
Fifty-three healthcare professionals from 'nine different countries were recruited, the majority of whom were physicians or nurses.'
Participants rated the 'importance of all survey items to assess breakthrough pain and the frequency of presentation for a subset of 37 items.'
Of the '49 survey items, 46 (93.8%) reached the ≥70% consensus threshold for importance, and 31 (83.8%) of 37 reached consensus for frequency. In total, 42 survey items reached consensus for both importance and frequency.'
The findings from this study 'support the clinical need for the BTPAQ-SR, confirm its conceptual foundation, and justify its continued development.'
'Next steps include cognitive interviews with children and young people and introduction to clinical care to assess the psychometric properties of the BTPAQ-SR, including its clinical utility, reliability, and validity.'
The association between children's sleep quality and juvenile idiopathic arthritis
The aim of this case-control study was to ‘investigate possible sleep disturbances in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).’
Forty-eight JIA patients vs. 90 healthy controls went through comprehensive clinical assessments.
Disease activity, health-related quality of life, pain intensity, fatigue levels and sleep quality were assessed. The findings show that the ‘incidence of sleep disturbance was significantly higher in the JIA group (P < 0.01).’
They conclude that ‘JIA patients show significantly higher rates of sleep disorders compared to healthy children, primarily due to disease activity, functional impairment, and medication effects.’
Parents' experiences of holding their child for healthcare procedures: a qualitative exploratory study
This qualitative exploratory study using semi-structured interviews aimed to ‘explore parents' experiences of holding children for healthcare procedures in an Australian paediatric hospital setting.’
Eight parents participated.
Four themes identified. ‘Parent as a protector was identified as the overarching role, with all roles involving aspects of parents protecting their child. The remaining roles included comforter-where parents supported their child by providing reassurance and being present; helper-where parents actively sought a role or stepped up to assist during a procedure and enforcer-where at times parents had a belief that to facilitate some procedures holding was necessary.
A sliding-scale schema illustrates that these roles are not static, but rather positioned along a continuum, with some parents moving between roles throughout a procedure.’
The nurse in child healthcare as a craftsman to use professional competence and build a health promotive relationship – an observation study
This exploratory qualitative study used observation and informal conversations to ‘explore how child healthcare (CHC) nurses use their professional competence to promote health in families with children.’
Twelve child healthcare nurses participated.
One theme was identified: ‘health promotion as a professional competence is a craft of interaction for caring and mutual learning.
The theme describes how CHC nurses use professional competence as a health promotion approach to create trust, where the decision-making and guidance of parents are skills that depend on interaction, which is an ongoing process. The shared learning outcome of the encounter was dependent on a healthy learning process.’
Children's outdoor play at early learning and child care centres: Examining the impact of environmental play features on children's play behaviour
This observational behavioural mapping study aimed to ‘understand the association between children's outdoor play behaviour and common environmental play features in early learning and child care outdoor play spaces, through the behaviour patterns of children’.
Children were observed at 'eight early learning and child care centres.'
The results show that ‘environmental play features, including gardening areas, playhouses, climbing structures and tricycle paths supported increased opportunities for children's outdoor play.
Gardening areas, playhouses, sandboxes, outdoor stages and fixed water features provided opportunities for exploratory play, while climbing structures and trike paths provided opportunities for physical play.
Opportunities for diverse forms of play were less realized in dedicated open play areas, with the availability of loose parts and moveable equipment primarily influencing these spaces.’
Socio-economic inequalities in stillbirth and preterm birth rates across Europe: a population-based study
The aim of this cross-sectional study was to ‘estimate socio-economic (SES) inequalities in stillbirth and preterm birth rates across European countries using population-based routine data.’
The results show that ‘median rates of adverse outcomes were higher in the lowest versus highest SES groups [Stillbirth: 4.9 (interquartile range (IQR):4.30-5.80)] versus 2.7 (IQR:2.25-3.14) per 1000 births; VPB: 1.0 (IQR: 0.87-1.12) versus 0.6 (IQR: 0.59-0.66) per 100 live births; MLPB: 5.8 (IQR: 5.27-6.40) versus 4.4 (IQR:4.13-4.65) per 100 live births.
Excess adverse outcomes associated with lower SES varied greatly, particularly for stillbirth (range-3%, 51%) versus VPB (7%, 27%) and MLPB (5%, 20%).
Concentration indices further highlighted varying socio-economic inequalities across countries. Median concentration indices were similar for countries with both lower and higher levels.
A pilot study of implementing of a home-visiting parent training program: SafeCare in Japan
This study ‘examined the feasibility, acceptability and possible effectiveness of implementing the SafeCare program in the Japanese community as a pilot study.’
Fourteen families 'completed the program, including parent-child/infant interaction (PCI/PII) and safety modules.'
These families had '13.9 visits on average. Among the families that did not complete the program, six averaged 2.8 visits for the PCI/PII module, while one family attended eight visits for the safety module.'
The 'modified short form of the Home Observation for Measurement of Environment Inventory showed improvement and a decrease in child-rearing stress.'
A qualitative exploration of parents’ perspectives of family members’ well-being and family dynamics during childhood cancer treatment
This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews to explore parents’ perceptions of how their child’s cancer treatment impacts family members’ well-being and family dynamics.
Eighteen parents of children with cancer participated.
Four themes were generated: ‘disruption to daily life and relationships, impact on siblings, parents’ emotional and psychological impact and role changes, and navigating separation and family dynamics during treatment. T
This study 'provides important contributions to a broader understanding of how family members are affected, from a parental perspective, during childhood cancer treatment in the UK.'
'Enforced separation of family units during hospital stay has an impact on family dynamics and family members’ well-being.’
“It doesn’t have to be big things”: The legacy perceptions of parents/caregivers of medically complex children
This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews to 'explore how parents/caregivers of medically complex children perceive and experience the concept of legacy.'
Thirty-one parents/caregivers participated.
Three themes were identified: ‘legacy is both what you leave behind and what you live right now; legacy inspires change; and legacy is shaped by healthcare experiences.'
Findings highlight the need for inclusive, adaptable legacy-building practices that address families’ unique needs and enhance psychosocial support for this population.’
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"Preparation for dental surgery to remove multiple caries.,Treatment of baby teeth.,General anesthesia.,The device of artificial ventilation of lungs.Copy of the space." • Bronwyn Photo - "Slapping a Child" • New Africa - "Child safety online.,Little girl using tablet at home.,Illustration of internet blocking app on foreground" • Pixel-Shot - "Plate with measuring tape and cutlery on color background.,Concept of anorexia" • sudok1 - "Small child receives treatment in the department of pediatric intensive care" • LucyJ - "A young black woman looks at her cell or mobile with a look of concern, the victim of revenge porn, blackmail, hate crime or online fraud, 16:9 landscape format with copy space" • AungMyo - "Sad woman raised her hand for stop domestic violence." • tonstock - "Family support care protection hand holding wooden figure group in palm conveying warmth trust and gentle connection for community or teamwork" • Sourov943 - "Photo of an abstract digital brain with neural network for artificial intelligence" • Miljan Živković - "young boy child kid pupil study work on homework assignment at home" • Africa Studio - "Helpless little girl near window.,Abuse of children concept" • Ko - "The family silhouette under protective hands representing care and security." • Stepan Popov - "Child writing Abbreviation ADHD on a blackboard" • Lane Erickson - "Homeless Child Wearing Old Worn Out Shoes with Holes in them Toes Sticking Out" • Martinesku - "Urban planning sustainable city design green architecture hand drawing skyscrapers.,Architect designing modern high-rise residential building area model." • triocean - "Toddler girl suffering from atopic dermatitis, close up image.,Red and itchy skin.,Eczema on kid's arm." • Anurak - "Young Boy Casting a Vote in an Election." • LimeSky - "Child with cerebral palsy undergoing therapy exercises" • AI_Imaginator - "Close-up of a medical monitor with a digital display." • Иван Шенец - "cochlear implant on the boy’s head.,hearing aid.,copy space" • Hanna - "The boy in hospital bed" • Svyatoslav Lypynskyy - "A young boy with a tracheostomy tube smiles brightly while sitting on a couch, radiating pure joy and infectious happiness." • Khaisan - "Conceptual illustration depicting knowledge translation, innovation, and creative thinking process" • Patryk Kosmider - "Newborn baby girl in the hospital after c-section" • Jirakit - "Strategic analysis of economic market strategies, focusing on global impacts" • Kenishirotie - "Asian child girl sleeping on the bed in her bedroom" • NDABCREATIVITY - "Doctor taking blood test from child patient.,Healthcare, examination, kid concept." • DC Studio - "Pediatric hospital nurse highfive sick child while in patient treatment ward room.,Blessed cheerful young patient highfive medical staff while in medical examination room." • chachamp - "black people child playing in playground" • koya979 - "Flag of Belgium in focus among other European countries flags.,Europe marked with table flags 3d rendering" • zhu difeng - "cute baby lie on bed" • Anastasiia - "Child Embracing Positivity While Undergoing Treatment In Hospital For Cancer.,Сoncept Cancer Survivor Stories, Bravery In Adversity, Overcoming Challenges, Inspiring Resilience" • Bigc Studio - "Woman holding pink heart in hands for valentines day or donate help give love warmth take care - heart on hand for philanthropy concept" • Harry - "Colorful Wooden Network People Figures Interconnected Global Business Teamwork Collaboration Concept Diverse Team Strong Network Social Media "