College Council met last week, and I always come away from Council with a few pearls of wisdom. I was thrilled to learn that we now have more than 25,000 members, making us the fifth largest Medical Royal College in the UK and the third largest paediatric society in the world. We also learnt that our is proving to be a successful launch, with more than 10,000 enquiries over the last 90 days and almost 80% of feedback being very positive! For some reason Wednesdays were the busiest days for enquiries...
Earlier feedback from our 2024 membership survey was also mostly positive, also highlighting areas where the College could provide more support.
In response to this feedback, we created new resources for members, such as the new Grand Round webinar series, Research and Leadership training, and added these with existing resources in one place for you to search through. IT challenges were also highlighted in the survey, so we built the to identify tools you might find useful. You also told us in 2024 it needed to be easier to find out how to get actively involved with the College and highlight membership concessions.
What can your College do for you over the next few years? Our 2026 membership survey is now open, and we are very keen to hear from you. There is a lot we want to hear from you about, and the survey only takes 15 minutes from start to finish. You can start, take a break, and then pick up where you left off to complete the survey in bite-sized chunks. Many thanks for completing the survey, we are very grateful for your time. Perhaps Wednesday is the best day for you too?
As industrial action continues to affect NHS services in England, I know this remains a challenging and, at times, uncertain period for many of you. We have brought together key information to help you navigate this, with clear advice on your professional responsibilities, training, and the practical considerations you may be facing. Whatever your personal decision, our priority is to support you and ensure children and young people continue to receive safe, high-quality care.
#WDYCD4U – Milestones magazine
I hope you have now seen the newest edition of Milestones; your exclusive member magazine. This issue explores personal and professional development, highlighting how continual learning can equip paediatricians with the skills and knowledge needed to better support children, young people and families in a rapidly changing healthcare landscape.
Check out the latest insights to help you grow, adapt and continue delivering the best possible care.
Shape our position on online harms
Over the past few months, online harms and children’s digital lives have moved rapidly up the national agenda, and it’s clear that paediatricians are seeing the consequences every day in clinics, emergency departments and community settings. As governments consider new approaches to regulating social media and shaping the online environment, it’s vital that the voice of paediatricians actively informs the direction of travel. That’s why we’re asking you to designed to capture the voices and experiences of paediatricians working at the frontline.
Your reflections will directly influence the College’s response to the government consultation and help ensure that any policy decisions are grounded in the realities of paediatric practice. I’d strongly encourage you to take a few minutes to ; your insight will make this work stronger, more credible, and ultimately more protective of the children and families we serve.
Screen time guidance
Over the past few weeks, we have been active on screen time, particularly in the early years. In February we submitted a response to the Department for Education’s consultation on screen time for under 5s, emphasising the importance of developmentally appropriate guidance, the risk of screen use displacing sleep, play and interaction, and the value of trusted conversations between families and health professionals.
We subsequently welcomed the government’s new guidance for parents of under 5s, published in late March, as a positive and practical step in supporting families during critical early years. In our media response, Vice President for Policy Mike McKean spoke publicly on behalf of the College, emphasising that the guidance gives parents much needed clarity and support at a time when navigating digital childhood can feel increasingly challenging. You can for yourself.
Sign the open letter to put children first in Wales
With fewer than 30 days until the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) election, your voice matters more than ever. Our calling on candidates to commit to Putting Children First closes soon. Every signature strengthens our message so please with colleagues to help make children’s health impossible for politicians to ignore.
In case you missed it...
Our annual Conference is just 4 weeks away! If you haven’t booked your ticket yet, it’s not too late to do so! And if you’re unable to travel to Birmingham, England to attend in person, you can also tune in online, as many sessions will be recorded for your convenience. Take some time to peruse the , see our speakers, and while you still can.
Also, all respondents to our membership survey will be entered into a prize draw for a free Conference pass – either online or in person!
Best wishes all round,
Steve
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