What is paediatrics? What is a paediatrician?
This page outlines the answers to these questions. Although much of the information is applicable to all countries it should be noted that the page has been written from the perspective of typical paediatric practice in the United Kingdom. Some areas, particularly training and career structure are different in other countries, especially the USA where a paediatrician is often a primary care physician specialising in child health. In the UK a paediatrician is usually a secondary care physician.
Paediatrics (also spelt Pediatrics in some countries) is the medical speciality that deals with the healthcare of children or young people. Its scope extends from birth (including babies born prematurely) to age 16 to 18. Paediatricians may also work with obstetric and midwifery teams to counsel parents regarding potential or anticipated problems with an unborn child. A paediatrician (alternative spelling – pediatrician) is a doctor who specialises in paediatrics.
Why do children need different doctors than adults?
Children can not be considered to be small adults. There are many anatomical, physiological, immunological, psychological and developmental differences between adults and children. Many diseases present differently or have a different course in children and some diseases occur exclusively in children. Consideration needs to be given to the variable degree to which children can communicate symptoms and finally there are legal and ethical considerations surround the health care of people who are minors in a legal sense. All these differences mean that specialists in the healthcare of children are required to ensure that the standard of care is the highest possible.
Training to be a Paediatrician
In the UK medical school training typically lasts 5 years. Following graduation 2 years are spent as a foundation doctor working in a range of specialities such as surgery, general practice, obstetrics, and paediatrics. After the foundation years a speciality for further training can be selected.
Paediatric speciality training typically takes 8 years. During the first 3 years of basic paediatric training doctors are required to obtain membership of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health before moving on to further training. Membership is granted by passing examinations referred to as MRCPCH.
Years 4 and 5 of training concentrate on higher training in three areas, namely, acute paediatrics, neonatology and community paediatrics. Years 6 to 8 of training involve further training in general paediatrics or specific training in one of the sub-specialities such as paediatric gastroenterology or paediatric neurology.
At the end of the 8 year training period and assuming that progress and workplace assessments had been satisfactory the doctor would be eligible to hold a Certificate of Completion of Training. The General Medical Council would then enter the doctor onto the Specialist Register allowing the doctor to practice as a Consultant Paediatrician. Some medical specialities have a formal “exit” examination at the end of training before entry to the consultant grade. At present there is no exit exam in paediatrics but this is being considered and may come into place in the future.
Further Information
Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health - Training
Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health - Examinations
General Medical Council
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What is Paediatrics? 