The call is made in the RCPCH’s new set of service standards — Facing the Future: Standards for Paediatric Services — which sets out minimum requirements for all general paediatric services.
The 10 standards address the timeliness of care, the grade of doctors who can review and discharge children, the availability of consultant input, the minimum number of doctors required for safe rotas as well as doctor's responsibilities in respect to child protection services.
Professor Terence Stephenson, RCPCH president, said: "At this time of difficulty in many paediatric services, I am proud of the fact that paediatricians are laying down a marker and setting the standards by which all children and young people should be treated.
"I have no doubt that these standards will help improve the medical care of children."
In addition to calling for paediatricians to be on hand to offer advice to professionals working with children, the standards call for children admitted to a paediatric department with an acute medical problem to be seen by a paediatrician within four hours.
They must also be seen by a consultant paediatrician within the first 24 hours.
Meanwhile, specialist paediatricians should be available for immediate telephone advice for acute problems for all specialties, and for all paediatricians.
