The Royal College of Peadiatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) has published national guidance for the recovery of elective surgery in children.
The aim of the guidance is to provide guidance on evidence-based practice that will enable recovery of children’s elective surgery.
The guidance has been developed by the following organisations: NHS England, Public Health England, the Royal College of Surgeons of England, Royal College of Anaesthesia, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, the Children’s Surgical Forum, British Association of Paediatric Surgeons, Association of Paediatric Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland, and The Association for Perioperative Practice.
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the cessation of all but the most urgent elective children’s surgical cases during the period of peak prevalence of infection in the general population. In the period March to May 2020 over 50,000 children in England had surgery from all surgical specialties postponed. There is an urgent requirement to re-establish elective children’s surgical services.
The guidance details thirty three recommendations on the important steps that need to be taken to restart services to inform practice that will enable recovery of children’s elective surgery.
To find out more and read the guidance please find it here.
