ObjectivesTo determine any change in referral patterns and outcomes in children (0–18) referred for child protection medical examination (CPME) during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with previous years.DesignRetrospective observational study, analysing routinely collected clinical data from CPME reports in a rapid response to the pandemic lockdown.SettingBirmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust, which provides all routine CPME for Birmingham, England, population 1.1 million including 288 000 children.ParticipantsChildren aged under 18 years attending CPME during an 18-week period from late February to late June during the years 2018–2020.Main outcome measuresNumbers of referrals, source of disclosure and outcomes from CPME.ResultsThere were 78 CPME referrals in 2018, 75 in 2019 and 47 in 2020, this was a 39.7% (95% CI 12.4% to 59.0%) reduction in referrals from 2018 to 2020, and a 37.3% (95% CI 8.6% to 57.4%) reduction from 2019 to 2020. There were fewer CPME referrals initiated by school staff in 2020, 12 (26%) compared with 36 (47%) and 38 (52%) in 2018 and 2019, respectively. In all years 75.9% of children were known to social care prior to CPME, and 94% of CPME concluded that there were significant safeguarding concerns.ConclusionsSchool closure due to COVID-19 may have harmed children as child abuse has remained hidden. There needs to be either mandatory attendance at schools in future or viable alternatives found. There may be a significant increase in safeguarding referrals when schools fully reopen as children disclose the abuse they have experienced at home.

Objectives To determine any change in referral patterns and outcomes in children (0-18) referred for child protection medical examination (CPME) during the covid-19 pandemic compared to previous years. Design Retrospective observational study, analysing routinely collected clinical data from CPME reports in a rapid response to the pandemic lockdown. Setting Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust, which provides all routine CPME for Birmingham, England, population 1.1 million including 288,000 children. Participants Children aged under 18 years attending CPME during an 18 week period from late February to late June during the years 2018, 2019, and 2020. Main Outcome Measures Numbers of referrals, source of disclosure and outcomes from CPME Results There were 78 CPME referrals in 2018, 75 in 2019 and 47 in 2020, this was a 39.7% (95%CI 12.4-59.0) reduction in referrals from 2018 to 2020, and a 37.3% (95%CI 8.6-57.4) reduction from 2019 to 2020. There were fewer CPME referrals initiated by school staff in 2020, 12(26%) compared to 36 (47%) and 38 (52%) in 2018 and 2019 respectively. In all years 75.9% of children were known to social care prior to CPME, and 94% of CPME concluded that there were significant safeguarding concerns. Conclusions School closure due to covid-19 may have harmed children as child abuse has remained hidden. There needs to be either mandatory attendance at schools in future or viable alternatives found. There may be a significant increase in safeguarding referrals when schools fully re-open as children disclose the abuse they have experienced at home.

had initially anticipated but this did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions SHO anxiety during the transition to middlegrade relates to the responsibility of managing emergency situations, but following a 6-month period of 'on the job' experience they identified managerial aspects of the role as the biggest challenge, more in line with what consultants had already identified as an important area for development.Trainees responded positively to this near peer teaching programme with plans in place for this to be an annual event. Future iterations of the course need to be revised to continue to incorporate feedback from all stakeholders.

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