About the guidance
The guidance covers the treatment and care of children and young people from birth to their 18th birthday.
It aims to help doctors, physician associates (PAs) and anaesthesia associates (AAs) feel equipped and confident to meet young people’s needs, whether they regularly work with them or not. It applies to all those registered with us, to the extent that it is relevant to their individual practice.
The children and young people guidance sits alongside our core professional standards Good medical practice, which sets out the principles, values, and standards of professional behaviour expected of all doctors, PAs, and AAs registered with us.
About the consultation
It’s been more than 10 years since we last updated the guidance, and in that time the health services and wider society has changed and evolved. We’re carrying out an in-depth review to make sure the guidance reflects these developments and can effectively support the delivery of high quality care, both now and in the future.
Key changes include:
- combining two current pieces of guidance – Protecting children and young people and 0-18 years – into one streamlined document, making it easier to navigate
- updates that aim to support better communication and decision making between those involved in a child’s care, patients and those with caring responsibilities
- updated principles that make clear what to do when treating those that are at risk of abuse or neglect.
