About APEM

History

Since 1959 various committees and recommendations have agreed on the need for:

• audio-visual separation for children in waiting & treatment areas
• minimal delays for children in A+E
• training & supervision for A+E juniors dealing with children
• liaison between Senior Paediatric & A+E staff

APEM acts to develop these areas, promoting, developing and propagating best practice. Through links with the JHCTA, and RCPCH it has a voice in training requirements for specialists in A&E, and Paediatric A&E.

It had an important role in the RCPCH convened multidisciplinary report "Accident & Emergency Services for Children". From this key recommendations were detailed:

• Audiovisual separation for paediatric patients from adults
• Establishing a minimum standard (on-site, in-patient paediatric facility) for units receiving children
• Defining minimal acceptable RSCN & Play Therapist staffing
• Mandating the recruitment of Consultants who have completed a recognised Paediatric A&E training programme
• Mandating the role of the Designated Liason Paediatricic Consultant
• Raising the agenda of multi-disciplinary (A+E, Primary Care, Paediatric) collaboration towards service planning locally & nationally

It has been pivotal in the development of a Paediatric A&E Specialist Registrar syllabus. Latterly, it has a standing member on the Children’s National Service Framework.