Doctor becomes new children's tsar
A new children's tsar has been appointed, the Department of Health announced today.
Sheila Shribman takes over from professor Al Aynsley-Green as national clinical director for children. He left the post earlier this year to become England's first children's commissioner.
Dr Shribman is currently medical director at Northampton General NHS trust and registrar for the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.
The announcement of her appointment coincided with the launch of a new prescribing guide for practitioners working with children.
The British National Formulary forChildren (BNFC) provides advice on paediatric prescribing, using a format familiar to doctors and pharmacists in the British National Formulary (BNF), which covers all drugs
Dr Shribman said: "The importance of children and young people's health and their care cannot be over-emphasised. Excellence in maternity services is essential."
Health minister Liam Byrne said: "I am delighted to announce Sheila Shribman's appointment as national director for children's healthcare services. Sheila will be bring a wealth of clinical and managerial expertise to the job."
Dr Shribman will start in the role in December.