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Facing the Future standards for paediatric care

Our standards outline how to provide a safe and sustainable, high-quality service that meets the health needs of every child and young person, and cover acute general paediatrics, emergency care, ongoing health needs and care outside the hospital.
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Can you share your experiences of these standards?

We are updating the standards for acute general paediatric services, care outside the hospital and ongoing health needs, and need your input!

We want to understand what's worked well and what needs improvement - and hear about any innovations that have helped your team improve service delivery.

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For acute paediatric care

It is essential that paediatrics is a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week specialty, with the most experienced doctors present at the busiest times.
Standards

For care outside the hospital

In 'Together for child health', we look at how to diagnose and treat children and young people with acute illness quickly and close to home.
Standards

2017 audit on the standards

Results from our audit on standards in acute paediatrics and care outside hospital highlighted gaps within paediatric rotas and poor links between primary care and the hospital child health service.
Audit findings
Nurse looking after child with her parent looking on

For ongoing needs

These standards apply to children who are awaiting diagnosis or are under the care of child health services to manage their ongoing health needs.
Standards

For emergency care

Urgent and emergency care must be fully integrated. Our audit toolkit can support your progress in meeting these standards.
Standards
Ambulances waiting outside an Emergency Department of a hospital

2022 audit - emergency care

Emergency departments were given provided a self-assessment toolkit, and we received 91 responses between 2018 and early 2020. Published in 2022, findings show scope to improve service delivery.
Audit findings
Medical case

Best practice examples

How have hospitals and clinical teams like yours implemented these standards for paediatric care?

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Related news and resources

Children's rights

At its heart, Facing the Future is about the rights of children and young people - to be involved in decisions about their care, and be treated by the right people, at the right time, in the right place.

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