Episode 45 | RCPCH’s new Initial Health Assessment Standards

Ellie Johnson is joined by Dr. Lynn Snow and Dr. Vicki Walker to explore the newly launched Initial Health Assessment (IHA) Standards from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH). These Standards are designed to enhance the experience of children and young people undergoing IHAs, improve health outcomes, and support overall wellbeing. By setting a higher benchmark for care, they aim to reduce long-term health disparities faced by children and young people in care compared to their peers.  Dr Lynn Snow is a community paediatrician working as Designated Doctor for looked after children for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and has worked with looked after children for over 20 years in various roles (including adoption adviser) in various areas of the country. She was until recently chair of the CoramBAAF National Health advisory committee and has focused on health records for children post adoption working with  DHSC and NHSE.  Dr Vicki Walker is a Consultant Paediatrician in Mansfield and Designated Dr for Children in Care in Nottinghamshire.  She was appointed to the RCPCH Child Protection Standing Committee as the representative for Looked After Children in February 2019, working with the College to improve health outcomes for children in care. In 2022 she was appointed RCPCH Assistant Officer for Child Protection (education) Dr Vicki Walker, Dr Lynn Snow and Ellie Johnson are the IHA delivery standards clinical project leads.