In its workforce census, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) found there were only five more community paediatricians in 2003 than in 2001, bringing the total to 1,549, a rise of just 0.3 per cent.
But the number of general paediatricians working in acute care rose 46.3 per cent to 4,239, while the number working in specialist tertiary centres was a third higher than in 2001, at 930.
Professor Sir Alan Craft, president of the RCPCH, said the principal problem was morale among community paediatricians, who carry out the bulk of child protection work. This had been caused by high-profile cases where paediatricians acting as witnesses in child murder and abuse cases came under fire.
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