Editor—In his news item Dyer reports that doctors are reluctant to work on child protection committees.1 I have yet to meet a paediatrician who is genuinely keen to do child protection work. Not surprisingly, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health is experiencing enormous difficulties filling the relevant posts.
Most paediatricians in training today do not wish to do community paediatrics in the future. It is certainly essential to have a named paediatrician for child protection in every hospital, but, ironically, in my experience, even the named paediatricians for child protection in some cases are reluctant to show passion in this field.
This general reluctance must be for several reasons, not least a lack of proper training. The royal college should look into this with an open mind. Also, why should only paediatricians have the responsibility for child protection work? There is no reason why other medical specialties such as general practice and orthopaedics should not take equal responsibility.
Competing interests: None declared.
References
- 1.Dyer O. Doctors reluctant to work on child protection committees, survey shows. BMJ 2004;328: 307. (7 February.)14764479 [Google Scholar]