Mind the gap: addressing mental health competency on the acute paediatric ward

Problem In acute paediatrics, there is lack of parity between the care of patients with physical and mental health problems, and as paediatricians, we must equip ourselves to redress the balance. This is reflected nationally in National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death and Care Quality Commission data.1 2 We recognise the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health’s position statement on the role of the paediatrician in supporting children and young people’s (CYP) mental health3 and the dramatic rise in mental health presentations during the COVID-19 pandemic.4–6 Aims To improve quality of care and staff confidence when working with CYP with mental health issues admitted to the acute paediatric ward of a general paediatric department in a London district general hospital (20 inpatient beds, 14 856 admissions per year).7
Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood - Education and Practice - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Equipment QI Reports Equipped: quality improvement Source Type: research