Child protection services could be further stretched by a slow down in the number of senior paediatricians, their professional body has warned.

The warning follows the 2005 census from the Royal College ofPaediatrics and Child Health, which reveals its latest workforcefigures.

The number of consultants and high grade paediatricians increased by 2.7per cent between 2003 and 2005. However, this represents a drop whencompared to the 7.2 per cent growth between 2001 and 2003.

The report said short-term measures had averted a workforce crisisfollowing the European Work Time Directive, which reduced traineedoctors' hours to 58 per week in 2004.

However, further pressure would be put on rotas following regulations tofurther cut working hours to 48 per week in 2009.

Dr David Shortland, workforce planning officer, said: "Some of thesefindings are worrying and have implications for research, trainingfuture doctors and aspects of paediatric medicine, including childprotection."