Dr Ronny Cheung, Officer for Health Services, joins Alison Firth, Head of Health Policy, and Bruce Warwick, Public Affairs Manager, for a lively discussion on how our landmark report – a blueprint for transforming child health services in England, published last autumn - has helped secure commitments to deliver care equitably for children at a national and local level.

Together, they take a close look at what these national commitments over the past six months mean for elective and community services. The trio also reflect on some of the challenges along the way as well as the opportunities to come.

Looking ahead, Ronny, Alison and Bruce consider the next six months for child health services. There's a focus on the Long-Term Workforce Plan and 10 Year Health Plan refresh and how the recommendations in our blueprint have helped focus the College’s approach to these major opportunities.

As ever when working in influencing, events often overtake us no matter how hard we plan. As such, it is worth noting that this episode was recorded before the College heard the news that NHS England would be abolished.

In this episode, you'll get a rare insight into how staff and members produce policy and then use this to influence decision makers at a national level.

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See our blueprint for transforming child health services in England

In this final episode of our podcast series on the changing climate, this mountainous country is seeing extreme temperature fluctuations, landslides and air pollution, endangering communities and impacting healthcare. But, there are some lessons around adaptation, as our guests who work or have volunteered in Nepal explain.

Dr Bernadette O’Hare hosts a fascinating and wide-ranging conversation with Dr Jamun Singh, a Nepalese paediatrician, and Dr Rashmi D’Souza, a UK-based paediatrician and Heather Watson, a UK-based paediatric nurse, who volunteered with Dr Singh in our Global Links programme.

Dr Singh gives a powerful account of the dramatic effects climate change is having in Nepal, from extreme temperature fluctuations to the indirect dangers posed by cooking on indoor fires. He highlights the impact of floods, which have triggered landslides, further endangering communities and disrupting daily life. Despite these challenges, Dr Singh shares how Nepal is adapting, including changing school schedules to cope with climate extremes and harnessing the country's hydropower potential as a sustainable energy source.

In a separate conversation, Bernadette caught up with Dr Camilla Kingdon in her last weeks as RCPCH President to find out more about the impacts of air pollution, as well as find out about her experiences visiting Nepal over the years.

This episode not only sheds light on the specific challenges faced by children in Nepal due to climate change but also underscores the importance of global cooperation and local adaptation strategies. Tune in to hear these compelling stories and learn how communities are striving to protect their children and future in the face of a rapidly changing environment.

Download transcript (PDF)

Resources:

• The impact of climate change on global child health - position statement
• The impact of climate change on child health around the world: results of a survey of child health professionals outside the UK
• Climate change - resources for child health professionals
• Global Links programme

Floods, heatwaves and wildfires have become increasingly common across Canada. And as retired paediatrician Dr Julian Pleydell-Pearce explains in this episode of our climate change series, this makes a profound impact on the lives of children and young people - and the way health services are delivered.

In episode two of this three-part series, Professor Bernadette O’Hare speaks with guest Julian, who worked as a paediatrician in Canada before his recent retirement. Julian shares his firsthand experiences of how shifting weather patterns has had a drastic impact on the lives of children and young people in Canada.

Julian explains how heatwaves are causing widespread damage, leading to devastating wildfires that have displaced communities, destroyed vast areas of forest and severely degraded air quality. Beyond the physical dangers, Julian shares the personal challenges he faces in a region increasingly affected by climate change.

Drawing from our recently published survey, this series aims to deepen our understanding of the risks posed by climate change, particularly for the world’s most vulnerable population: children.

We hope this podcast series deepens your understanding of the serious impacts climate change has on children's health. There's an urgent need for action, so tune in to hear about how we can all contribute to creating a safer, healthier future for children everywhere.

Download transcript (PDF)

Resources:

• The impact of climate change on global child health - position statement
• The impact of climate change on child health around the world: results of a survey of child health professionals outside the UK
• Climate change - resources for child health professionals