The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, often referred to as the RCPCH, is the professional body for paediatricians (doctors specialising in child health) in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and ...

. It is responsible for the postgraduate training of paediatricians and conducts the Membership of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (MRCPCH) exams. It also awards the Diploma in Child Health (DCH), which is taken by many doctors who plan a career in general practice. Members of the college use the postnominal initials 'MRCPCH' while Fellows use 'FRCPCH'.

History

The United Kingdom's first national group of paediatricians was established in 1928 as the British Paediatric Association or BPA. Its first president was George Frederic Still. The BPA's initial aims were the advancement of the study of paediatrics and the promotion of friendship amongst paediatricians. Most paediatricians also belonged to the Royal College of Physicians and took the examination MRCP(Paeds). The BPA was granted

royal college A royal college in some Commonwealth countries is technically a college which has received royal patronage and permission to use the prefix ''royal''. Permission is usually granted through a royal charter. The charter normally confers a constitut ...

status in August 1996. The MRCP(Paeds) exam was replaced by the MRCPCH in 1999. The College's official journal, the Archives of Disease in Childhood, was founded in 1926. The RCPCH's first home was in Hallam Street,

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

. On 21 March 2008 the College moved to new premises at 5-11 Theobalds Road, London, where it is still based.

Aims of the College

The RCPCH's stated aim is to 'transform child health through knowledge, innovation and expertise'.RCPCH website http://www.rcpch.ac.uk/what-we-do In practice it has a number of roles: * Postgraduate training for paediatricians: the RCPCH defines the paediatric curriculum, advises Local Education and Training Boards and records and monitors trainees' progress from entry to specialist training to achieving the

certificate of completion of training The Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) is the certificate that medical doctors in the United Kingdom receive to indicate that they have completed training in their chosen specialty and are therefore eligible for entry onto the specialis ...

(CCT). * Running examinations: both the MRCPCH, considered an essential qualification for British paediatricians, and the DCH, a qualification in child health for non-paediatricians. * Provides courses and e-learning resources. * Campaigns to improve child health nationally and globally. * Organises research conferences, notably the RCPCH Annual Conference. * Publishes the Archives of Disease in Childhood, a peer-reviewed journal of paediatrics. * Develops clinical guidelines and standards. The college works closely with other bodies, including the Department of Health (United Kingdom), the Local Education and Training Boards, the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board, the

General Medical Council The General Medical Council (GMC) is a public body that maintains the official register of medical practitioners within the United Kingdom. Its chief responsibility is to "protect, promote and maintain the health and safety of the public" by ...

, the National Clinical Assessment Service (NCAS), the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), children's charities and the other medical royal colleges.

Fellowship

Senior doctors who have completed paediatric training can apply for Fellowship of the RCPCH, after which they can use the letters FRCPCH.

Coat of arms

The

coat of arms A coat of arms is a heraldic visual design on an escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the latter two being outer garments). The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central element of the full heraldic achievement, which in its ...

of the college commemorate June Lloyd, first female President of the British Paediatric Association and Thomas Phaire, whose ''Boke of Chyldren'' from 1545 was the first book on paediatrics in

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ...

. The crest is a baby, taken from the arms of the

Foundling Hospital The Foundling Hospital in London, England, was founded in 1739 by the philanthropic sea captain Thomas Coram. It was a children's home established for the "education and maintenance of exposed and deserted young children." The word " hospita ...

in Coram's Fields.

List of presidents of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

The President is the elected head of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.

British Paediatric Association

Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

References

External links

* {{Coord missing, London 1928 establishments in the United Kingdom Health in the London Borough of Camden Medical associations based in the United Kingdom Organisations based in the London Borough of Camden Paediatrics and Child Health