Children

A decline in health visitors in England has coincided with an increase in families attending A&E with concerns about their babies, new research reveals. The Institute of Health Visiting (iHV) said the findings showed that cuts to health visiting were a “false economy” and called for action to boost numbers…

A group of paediatric nurses has led a petition calling for an immediate and indefinite ceasefire between Israel and Palestine to prevent further deaths and to ensure humanitarian aid can reach those impacted by the conflict. The UK Medical Coalition launched the petition after UK parliament rejected calls to back…

A nurse who lost his son to suicide has called for lived experience to play a bigger role in the design of mental health services. Simon Jones, a senior registered mental health nurse, spoke alongside other clinicians at a conference last week on youth suicide. The event, organised by the…

More nurses will be needed to help close a mental health “treatment gap” facing children and young people, a leading NHS figure has said. Professor Prathiba Chitsabesan, national clinical director for children and young people’s mental health at NHS England, spoke at The Royal Society of Medicine’s conference on suicide…

Every neonatal nurse in England will be asked to anonymously share their views on the culture in their units, as part of the Lucy Letby inquiry. In a statement issued today, chair of the inquiry, Lady Justice Thirlwall, said work was starting on gathering evidence from nurses, midwives, doctors, hospital…

A coalition of public health nurses, charities and councils has written an open letter to chancellor Jeremy Hunt, urging him to commit additional money towards children’s social care before services are “pushed to the brink”. The 29 organisations, which includes the Schools and Public Health Nurses Association and the Institute…

A new national system for identifying when a child’s health is deteriorating must be “rolled out and embedded everywhere”, nurse leaders have urged. Nurses working with children and young people (CYP) discussed priorities for CYP services at the annual summit of chief nursing officer for England Dame Ruth May, being…

The mother of Martha Mills, a 13-year-old girl who died due to a delay in moving her to intensive care despite her parents repeatedly raising the alarm about sepsis, has told nurses they must do more to back patients when relatives feel they are being ignored. Merope Mills said nurses…

Katie Stevens has been announced as the new director of clinical services at a charity providing care to children in the South East of England with serious or life-limiting conditions. The charity Demelza, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, provides clinical, emotional and practical support to families throughout Kent, South…

The Royal College of Nursing is to launch a new exhibition dedicated to the history of children and young people’s nursing. The new exhibition, Once Upon a Time, celebrates the historic contributions of children and young people’s nursing staff as well as championing their importance to the future of the…