NHS staff 'lack child protection training'
Updated on 16 July 2009
The NHS risk a repeat of Baby P child abuse due to worrying gaps in child protection where almost half of staff have inadequate training, a review has found.
The government-ordered review published today shows gaps in child services with only just 54 per cent of staff in each trust, who should be trained in child protection, having up-to-date training.
Regulators described this figure as "worryingly low", adding that only 37 per cent of trusts have a budget for training staff in this area.
Around 65 per cent of GPs either do not have appropriate training or there is no data to say whether they do or not, according to the report from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) which calls for "major improvements" into measures to safeguard children.
In 20 primary care trusts (PCTs), ten per cent or fewer GPs were up to date while only six PCTs could say 90 per cent or more of their GPs had adequate training. This is despite around one in ten GP consultations in 2007/08 being with children aged 14 or under.
Today's report also found that only 58 per cent of A&E or urgent care staff have adequate training in child protection. This is despite around three million children under 16 attending A&E ever year.
Among surgeons, anaesthetists and theatre nurses who treat children, only 42 per cent had up-to-date training, the study found.
The report also said that a third of acute trusts had no follow up process for children missing outpatient appointments as some trusts lacked policies in key areas of protection.
A CQC report into Baby P's death published in June highlighted "systemic failings" in the NHS care given to the little boy before his death.
Doctors and other health workers had contact with Baby P 35 times but every opportunity to raise the alarm and save him was missed, it said.
Cynthia Bower, CQC chief executive, said: "It is clear that safeguarding has not been as high on the agenda of trust boards as it should have been.
"And that has meant, in some cases, that NHS staff have not been given the support they need in terms of training and clear procedures for handling concerns. If that were to change, it would be an appropriate legacy for Baby Peter.
"The NHS has got to play its part by getting these safeguarding measures in place."
Three people were convicted over the death of 17-month-old Baby P in the London borough of Haringey last year.
In an eight month period he suffered more than 50 injuries, including fractured ribs and a broken back, but social services failed to take him into care.
Today's study was based on a detailed survey of 392 NHS trusts and was ordered by the government after the failures surrounding Baby P came to light.
