Independent health consultant Dr Foster annually surveys the UK's mediumand large hospitals on children's services.
The latest figures show that although nine out of 10 of hospitals alwayshad a specialist registrar or higher paediatrician on site in 2000/01,only eight out of 10 did in 2004/05. Paediatricians have blamed the EUWorking Time Directive.
The findings come ahead of the Healthcare Commission's firstcomprehensive improvement review of children's services in hospitals,which is due out this summer.
Maggie Kemmner, who is leading the review, said the Dr Foster guidewould help increase parents' awareness of quality measures. But sheadded that the commission's review would provide a more detailed pictureof children's services in hospitals.
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