Researchers from the Peninsula Technology Assessment Group (PenTAG) at the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry have contributed to new National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance on preventing unintentional injury to the under-15s.

The public health guidance is based on reviews of research evidence produced by the team at PenTAG. There are three linked pieces of guidance on: home safety assessments and safety equipment; road design and modification; and broader strategies to prevent unintentional injuries to among children and young people aged under 15 including changes in workforce training and in injury surveillance in children.

The three pieces of national guidance make recommendations to commissioners and providers of health services, environmental health services, housing services and associations, local authority children's services, local authority health and wellbeing boards, local authorities and their strategic partnerships, local safeguarding children boards, police, fire and rescue services, Sure Start and children's centres.

The guidance is also for practitioners who visit families and carers with children and young people aged under 15 (including GPs, midwives, social workers and health visitors).

The PenTAG team of researchers worked on the project between December 2008 and March 2010. They produced over 10 systematic reviews of research evidence and four economic analyses that contributed to the new NICE policies. Two of the reviews on the broader injury prevention strategies were also produced in collaboration with reviewers at the London School of Economics and the University of Birmingham.

The guidance was published recently by NICE.

Source:
Andrew Gould
The Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry