Improving our communicating and consulting skills

A few months ago the UK public and media were shocked by a report into the systematic torture and then murder of a child by her carers.¹ One consequence for National Health Service Trust Boards is that, by the end of next month, they will have to complete an audit into their child protection arrangements.² The report called for rigorous application of the “medical model” of history, examination, tests, diagnosis, treatment, and follow up to child protection cases. Also, it criticised the standards of note keeping of some of the doctors involved. Having read them, I doubt these were very different from many—if not most—of their colleagues throughout the country.

Serendipitously, therefore, this month’s ADC has quite a lot to say about how doctors and families communicate—though not in regard to child abuse. Newton and Cunningham are concerned that so little attention is paid to teaching how to consult and how to communicate. They emphasise that, despite what many paediatricians may believe …