Chair’s Spring Update 2026

Hello and welcome to Spring.

With warmer days ahead and hopefully the back of the winter viruses, I thought we should update you about the busy winter season we've been contributing to as APEM. There are several new committee members to introduce, after a very busy application round, thanks again to everyone who expressed interest.

The recent meningitis and measles outbreaks thankfully appear to have been contained we highlight some thoughtful reading around both.

In addition we remain in demand for contributions to shaping the future of our speciality with several opportunities ahead following on from the important work shaping the Model ED work with NHS England.

Finally we highlight an extremely packed summer of educational and networking opportunities with a jam packed summer of paediatric emergency medicine conferences ahead.

Here's to hoping the weather stays as warm as my wishes to you all.

Charlotte

The Model Emergency Department

APEM was delighted to contribute to representing the voice of children throughout NHS England "The Model Emergency Department (ED)". This initiative offers a clear framework for delivering high-performing urgent and emergency care pathways. This work, led by NHS England, focuses on creating EDs that are efficient, patient-centred, and capable of managing the complex needs of children and young people.

Key features of the Model ED include:

• Streamlined patient flow to reduce waiting times

• Enhanced multidisciplinary collaboration

• Use of data to monitor performance and outcomes

• Integration of paediatric-specific pathways to improve safety and experience

  
  

The full details of this initiative are available on the NHS England website, providing valuable guidance for teams aiming to align with best practices. Embracing this model can help departments deliver consistent, high-quality care in a challenging environment.

Calls for Contribution:

NCEPOD is conducting a clinical survey focused on the stabilisation of critically unwell children. This survey aims to gather data on current practices, challenges, and outcomes to inform future improvements.

APEM urges all members and paediatric emergency teams to participate actively in this survey. Completing the survey will contribute to a comprehensive understanding of stabilisation processes and help identify areas where support or training may be needed.

Call for Evidence-Based Interventions to Develop a Modern Service Framework for CYP - deadline 24th April!

NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care are seeking submissions that provide evidence of best practice in child health. They are looking for evidence-based interventions for children and young people which deliver measurable improvements in child health and specifically improve quality of care and performance of the health system. In this context, interventions includes both broader service model transformations, such as pathway transformations and delivery approaches, as well as more specific clinical and digital interventions. Interventions should support the three shifts in the 10 Year Health Plan!

APEM would urge any local departments to respond to this request urgently as our response as an organising will be unlikely to fully represent the richness or ideas that exist within your own areas.

Meningitis and Measles Awareness and Resources

It will have been difficult to have avoided the media coverage of the tragic Men B outbreak in Kent in March. Fortunately the local response seems to have prevented further spread. As usual Alisdair Munroe provides an excellent reminder and summary of this particular outbreak on his recent substack post.

The measles virus and rash

Equally as tragically the UK has lost it's Measles immunity status which has been felt in real time in North London with a notable outbreak of measles. There were at least 2 critically unwell children from this outbreak and although publicity has remained minimalised there was also a death. Unfortunately, winter outbreaks, are becoming frequent with this the 4th consecutive year somewhere has had to declare an outbreak.

Resources for Healthcare Services

For healthcare professionals seeking guidance on managing measles cases, the NHS England has provided comprehensive resources. These include best practices for vaccination, outbreak management, and patient education. For more information, visit the NHS England website: Measles Guidance for Healthcare Services.

Importance of Vaccination

Vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent measles and its complications. The MMR has recently been upgraded to include varicella (the MMR-V) and is now given at 12m and 18m. It is vital we keep re-inforcing the important message of vaccination within our role as advocates for child health. RCPCH and the Oxford Vaccine Group have some very helpful resources to help empower clinicians to continue having these conversations.

Welcoming New Committee Members

APEM is pleased to welcome several new members to the committee this spring. These individuals bring fresh perspectives, expertise, and energy to the association.

Katy Rose & Nadia Audhali will act as our interim website managers and hope to help us freshen up and dust away our winter website cobwebs. If anyone has any ideas for them do drop us a line.

 Shahzad Salim & Steve Foster have bravely stepped up to the guidelines representatives role.

Trisha Gupta  (RCEM) and Sarah Reynolds (RCPCH) have stepped into our trainee rep positions, and we look forward to another great trainee conference this year. Many thanks indeed to our outgoing team

A warm welcome also to Sam Thenabadu who has kindly agreed to sit as the PEMPAG representative in APEM.

The committee are aware that there are issues with membership requests and payments. It remains a work in progress but we hope with an injection of fresh energy from the above we will have this sorted soon.

PEM Conferences

RCPCH 11th - 13th May

APEM returns to the RCPCH conference this year with a jam packed Monday afternoon session. We hope to see lots of old and lots of new faces at the conference and of course out for dinner and drinks after (details TBC). Tickets for the whole conference and individual days can be purchased here.

June Conferences

Don't Forget the Bubbles and the PREMIER teams both host conferences this June. We are sure they will be incredible events and hope to see some friendly faces in the busy crowds.

APEM/PERUKI Conference

Looking ahead, the joint APEM and Paediatric Emergency Research in the UK and Ireland (PERUKI) conference promises to be a highlight of the year. Tickets are not yet on sale but please book your study leave for September 15th and 16th. This event will bring together clinicians, researchers, and educators to share findings, discuss challenges, and plan collaborative projects.

Members are encouraged to register early and consider appropriate projects for submitting as abstracts to contribute their work to this important forum.

That's all for now and I look forward to sending an even more action packed update following all the above activity.