Few practitioners have the required training for paediatric healthcare
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An article, published in the British Medical Journal, has predicted that the changes within the NHS could put children’s healthcare at risk
The Department of Health has responded to the criticisms and insist that level of care that children receive will not be affected by the changes.
However, the authors of the article, which include senior paediatricians, public health specialists and family doctors, say that giving control of the NHS’s budget to the GP’s could be a critical mistake.
“Experience matters, especially in recognising rare but serious illnesses in children,” say the authors.
They have complained that nowadays less practitioners have special training in paediatrics health care. Also too many family doctors lack specialist training and experience in looking after children.
They conclude that the NHS reforms will have a real impact on children’s care in England.
The article criticised the health care that is provided for children in the UK altogether saying that the system lags behind other European countries and is not even comparable anymore to the care that is provided in Sweden, Germany or Netherlands.
They predicted that if the UK health system performed as well as those in Sweden, the best performing country they looked at, as many as 1,500 children might not die each year.
For more information on the reform, please visit http://www.dh.gov.uk
By Nora Stankewitz
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