RCN welcomes new system to help protect vulnerable children

Published: 02 January 2013

The Royal College of Nursing today (27 December) welcomed the announcement of a new system to help nurses and doctors spot children suffering from abuse and neglect. RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary, Dr Peter Carter, said:

“The RCN has been working closely with the Department of Health on this project and we fully support its implementation. Recent tragic cases have highlighted a lack of communication between different parts of health care services, and today’s announcement is a welcome step forward in addressing those issues.

“It is vital that there is an effective and efficient system for safeguarding children. This solution will help to provide extra information for nurses who often see patients first in emergency care settings, save time and alert them in identifying whether children are suffering from abuse or neglect. We look forward to continued working with the Department of Health in implementing the system as soon as possible.”

Ends

Notes for Editors

1.         For further information, interviews or illustrations please contact the RCN Media Office on 02076473633, press.office@rcn.org.uk or visit http://www.rcn.org.uk/ newsevents/media

2.        The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organisations