Dear members Wishing you all good health and companionship in the festive season. 2020 has been especially difficult for so many families, organisations and our social and healthcare. The year has however been notable for positivity -  the many acts of kindness shown by supporting each other and for people coming together with shared learning experiences. Covid 19 continues to create so many challenges for us. I would like to give a personal thanks to BSPGHAN Council and Working Groups and our charitable partners for the rapid advice produced for our families. Thank you to Executive Lucy and Mansoor, and to Carla for all your support this year. The pandemic has amplified difficulties faced by those with vulnerabilities and those who are most at risk from anxiety, homelessness or loss of work. There is  much to do in 2021 to tackle disadvantage and support the mental well-being of our communities. We all look forward to what 2021 will bring- collectively moving to a time...

COVID-19 - guidance on clinically extremely vulnerable children and young people More evidence has emerged that shows there is a very low risk of children becoming very unwell from COVID-19, even for children with existing health conditions. Most children originally identified as clinically extremely vulnerable no longer need to follow this advice. The RCPCH has been reviewing the evidence base around the impact of Covid-19 or SARS-CoV-2 infection on children and young people with comorbidities which has been developing over time.  They have worked with paediatric specialties to review this evidence and advise on which children and young people are at the highest risk of severe disease due to Covid-19 infection because they are ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ (CEV).  Those children whose doctors have confirmed they are still clinically extremely vulnerable are advised not to attend school while this advice is in place. Children who live with someone who is clinically extremely...

https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/resources/covid-19-guidance-clinically-extremely-vulnerable-children-young-people

BSPGHAN Council are delighted to announce that we have consolidated an affiliation with Frontline Gastroenterology. This arrangement offers an exciting opportunity for BSPGHAN members to receive:- Free access to the online publication as a benefit of membership. Access will be via the secure member area on the BSPGHAN website. The opportunity for publication of poster abstracts from the BSPGHAN Annual meeting in the journal. Look out for a dedicated session introducing Frontline Gastroenterology at the 2021 virtual BSPGHAN Annual Meeting in January. The journal You will be aware that FG is an official publication of the British Society of Gastroenterology  and is a companion journal to Gut and BMJ Open Gastroenterology. Frontline Gastroenterology publishes articles that accelerate adoption of innovative and best practice in the fields of gastroenterology, hepatology and clinical nutrition. Frontline Gastroenterology is especially...

Clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) children are those who are considered to be at the highest risk of severe disease due to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Currently , the government and public health agencies have not issued guidance that people who are CEV are advised by to ‘shield’. The evidence base around the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on children and young people with comorbidities has been developing over time. RCPCH is working with paediatric specialties to review this evidence and advise on which children and young people are at the highest risk of severe disease due to SARS-CoV-2 infection because they are ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ (CEV). This includes the following: Research evidence summariesService evaluation and audit on the care needs of children admitted to hospital (England)Systematic review of evidence about milder outcomes in childrenCEV children will be determined on individual basis, in discussions between the clinician, the child and their family. Of note,...