Child health research at worryingly low level warns Royal College
RCPCH | 29 October 2015
Leading children’s doctors are warning that the decline in the amount of child health research being conducted presents a risk to the health of current and future generations.
The survey of nearly 2,000 paediatricians, conducted by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), reveals that:
- Amongst consultant paediatricians, over 80% have no programmed activities (PAs) in their job plan for research and more than half undertake no research work at all
- Those undertaking research spend almost the same amount of time on research work that is unpaid as paid
- Nearly 90% do not receive grants for research
Professor Anne Greenough, Vice-President for Research at the RCPCH, said:
“The level of research being undertaken into child health is worryingly low. We know that there are huge pressures on the paediatric workforce but without time allocated to generating evidence to advance treatment and care, we risk not giving children and young people the level of healthcare they deserve.
“This will affect not only today’s children, but ultimately the health of the nation.”
