RCN urges government to act now to evacuate sick children from Gaza

Delays to sick Gazan children being evacuated to the UK for urgent care are leading to unnecessary deaths, says the RCN in a joint letter to the Westminster government.

Earlier in August, the government announced plans to bring children from Gaza to the UK for urgent medical treatment within the “coming weeks”.

Health care in Gaza continues to be severely impacted by the damage or destruction of almost every hospital in the strip, while Israel’s blockade of food and medical resources is making a desperate situation worse.

In a joint letter to the health secretary, foreign secretary and home secretary, the RCN, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the British Medical Association (BMA) and the International Child Health Group (ICHG) insist the evacuation scheme cannot continue to "be hampered by bureaucratic obstruction or setbacks."

• Read our joint letter in full

The letter says it is “medically indefensible that children have died waiting to be evacuated”. It urges ministers to ensure the evacuation process for NHS treatment is based on clinical urgency and not financial or political considerations. Family separation must also be avoided “at all costs”, with parents and caregivers evacuated so the child has essential support in recovery.

Almost 15,000 people – including critically ill and injured children – require urgent medical evacuation, according to the World Health Organization. Health care facilities in the region are operating far beyond capacity, with more than half of medicines out of stock, according to a recent WHO update.

The letter says that “every minute of inaction and delay increases the risk of mortality for children selected for treatment in the UK.”

Marcus Wootton, Associate Director International Academy, RCN Institute of Nursing Excellence, says: “The children of Gaza are suffering under a relentless bombardment which has killed and injured tens of thousands and done huge damage to health facilities. As a blockade of food and medicine continues to make a bad situation worse, ministers cannot delay any further in evacuating children selected for NHS treatment in the UK.

“Every second counts if we are to save lives, and RCN members stand ready to use their skills and expertise to care for Gazan children, many of whom have catastrophic injuries. Alongside an urgent evacuation we desperately need a ceasefire and for our government to do all it can to ensure international humanitarian law is upheld.

“We must also ensure that, as soon as possible, there is sustained support, via UK overseas aid, to rebuild Gaza's shattered health system and enable the nursing profession in Gaza to recover and thrive.”