Alder Hey issues the statement as concerns grow over the use of staff

A hospital trust admits it has stopped employing staff within its child protection team after concerns about the staff’s credibility in court cases.

Alder Hey Children’s Hospital has issued a statement about its use of doctors as concerns grow over the use of hospital staff in these cases. This statement comes when the city’s parliamentarian wrote to the hospital seeking clarification on the issue.

In a statement, the Liverpool hospital admitted it had stopped deploying the associated doctor to its security team after concerns were raised by the Crown Prosecution Service and the police about reliance on their testimony in court proceedings.

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Physician assistants are health care professionals who work under the supervision of a physician to provide care. Although they have some medical training, they cannot administer medicine. People can qualify for the positions after obtaining a two-year master’s degree that is partially funded.

READ MORE: Doctor says children ‘deserve better’ after Alder Hey revelationsREAD MORE: Alder Hey ordered to pay more than £10m in damages to family after child’s brain damaged during ‘routine’ operation

There is debate about the increased use of medical staff within the National Health Service. There are about 4,000 working in the health services now, with plans to increase this number to 10,000. Both the Royal College of GPs and the British Medical Association (BMA), have called for a freeze on the recruitment of GPs while the growing concerns are addressed.

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Last month, the ECHO reported on concerns about the use of medical staff at Alder Hey. In response to a Freedom of Information request, the hospital said that a single doctor performed child sexual abuse treatment with a medical examiner between May 2019 and October 2023.

Alder Hey told the ECHO that doctors previously worked within its security and legal services but this ended in March 2024. The hospital said the first phase was was involved in supporting the team in carrying out baseline assessments and management plans and was closely supervised by the clinician. a counselor.

These revelations raised further concerns from many in the medical field. MP for Liverpool West Derby, Ian Byrne, took to social media to say he would be writing to the hospital – which falls within his constituency – to ‘clarify’ the use of doctors’ friends in ‘of hope.’

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But as national newspapers reported on the matter, Alder Hey issued a new statement and admitted for the first time that it had terminated the use of doctors in its security team because of concerns about the use of evidence provided by employees in such cases. situation in the cases.

In a lengthy statement posted on its website, the trust explained that it currently employs a staff of 10 doctors to provide support to its medical teams in various departments. As well as their general training, the trust said staff receive specific training in the area they work in.

The statement reads: “Physician fellows assist our clinical teams by taking medical histories, performing basic physical and diagnostic tests, and making management plans. They cannot provide medications or ordering research tests such as X-rays. It is important to understand that their work is always closely supervised by a medical professional.”

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Speaking about its security team, Alder Hey said that in 2019 a medical assistant was recruited into the team to provide additional support after completing additional security training. The Trust said the role was subject to ‘valid limitations.’

The statement added: “Whenever it is known or suspected that a child or young person has been raped and/or sexually abused, any examination is always carried out by a professional expert. A professional expert makes all aspects of the examination, he writes a report and gives a forensic opinion to the court. emotional health .It is important to emphasize that this is different from the evaluation of a Professional Expert.

“Physician friend developed alternative child protection medications for children and youth where it is known or suspected that they have experienced physical abuse and/or neglect. by Supervising Counsel.”

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Alder Hey went on to explain that in early 2024, the trust realized that in relation to cases in the Family Court, the Crown Prosecution Service and the police did not feel able to rely on the assessment reports prepared by doctor’s partner.

The statement added: “This was not because of any concern about the reports or the person who prepares them. The Trust decided in March 2024 that it would no longer enter a doctor who works with he in the security team.

“This decision was taken to support the Police, the CPS and the Justice System in their vital security work, and was not in any way a reflection on any friend of the doctor, whose work His was always held to a high standard by his internal and external colleagues, The Trust is proud of the work they have done and the support they have given to children and young people in difficult situations. the most.

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Regarding the future use of jobs, Alder Hey said it welcomes ongoing discussion and will play its part to ensure ‘good governance, governance and regulation’ when it comes to the use of medical staff. within the trust.