Updates

Support for families seeking a second opinion on their child’s care

A new guide is available to support families when requesting and receiving an external second opinion about their child's care.

May 26, 2022

 

For children and young people with very complex medical needs, obtaining a second opinion can be a helpful way for you and your child’s healthcare team to explore any difficult decisions about your child’s future treatment.

Full guidance on how to achieve a collaborative and transparent external second opinion, and the process that families can expect to follow, is available to view on the RCPCH’s webpage on “Seeking and providing an external second opinions in paediatrics

There is also a shorter guide for families that covers the key points of the external second opinion process. The PDF guide is available to download here: www.rcpch.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2022-04/External-Second-Opinions-in-Paediatrics-for-families.pdf 

The guidance has been developed through joint working with families and clinicians from a wide range of specialties, and the following organisations; the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), Together for Short Lives, Paediatric Critical Care Society.

Logos: RCPCH, Together for Short Lives, Paediatric Critical Care Society