Sick children at risk from poor training

Critically ill children are having their life put at risk by inadequate medical training in London hospitals

A report today says that many health trusts in the capital are failing to give doctors, nurses and surgeons the specific skills needed to treat patients under 16.

Medical watchdog, the Healthcare Commission, found that nine out of 10 London trusts are not providing basic training on how to resuscitate children or provide emergency life support and only one in 10 has anaesthetists who have performed the recommended number of consultations on children.

The report also showed that more than a third are not training surgeons to recognise signs of child abuse, despite criticisms in the Baby P scandal that doctors failed to spot signs of life-threatening injuries.

Anna Walker, the commission's chief executive, demanded "refresher" training each year and said: "'We are particularly concerned about training in child protection.

"It is absolutely vital that NHS staff working with children know how to recognise signs of child abuse.

"Children are not 'mini adults'. They can't always articulate their symptoms or level of pain and some illnesses in children are rarely seen in adults.

"That's why it is so important that staff are equipped with the skills and training they need to assess and treat children."