National Clinical Review on the Impact of COVID-19 Restrictions on Children and Guidance on Reopening of Schools and the Normalisation of Paediatric Healthcare Services in Ireland

This National Clinical Review Document was developed in May/June 2020 following extensive consultation with Child Health Professionals with a deep and wide understanding of the needs of the child. The document has been updated in August 2020 to reflect more recent developments. It has been written to describe the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown measures on children and what needs to be done now. In essence the document explores where we have come from, where we are now, and where we should be in the coming months. It is our collective opinion that the two key adverse consequences for all children across the State are the prolonged closure of the schools and the curtailment of services to children - specifically paediatric medical services, GP services, and multidisciplinary community support services. We feel that there needs to be a recalibration of how children are catered for in this pandemic. The document provides a template for how best to address children’s needs during this difficult time. At present, children have become invisible despite the fact that they account for 25% of the country’s population. There needs to be more leadership and better co- ordination in both planning and implementation on their behalf. They need strong advocates. Children are not the face of this pandemic, but they risk being among its biggest victims. The short turnaround time between the inception and completion of the document is a reflection of our perceived urgency to set out what next must be done to halt and reverse the adverse effects of the current restrictions.