1322 Juno: paediatric care via instant messaging – a pilot

Abstract

Methods Over a 3-year period, three events were organised by Paediatric trainees: the initial event was face-to-face, and the following two years were virtual events due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The day long programme involved sessions covering a range of topics including: an introduction to Paediatric training in Yorkshire; a 'Job Idol' competition which allowed us to showcase the many sub-specialties in Paediatrics; what the application and interview involves; and finally, a session on other opportunities in Paediatric training, such as leadership projects and working abroad. Feedback was collected from each event.Results Over the course of our three events, 100 people attended, with the majority being Foundation Doctors. The majority of attendees gave feedback that they had found the day useful, had gained something out of it, and were feeling certain or quite certain about applying for Paediatrics. People stated that the day had been 'inspiring' and 'motivational' and was a 'good showcase of future paediatric colleagues'. Application numbers to Paediatrics for 2022, although not formally released at the time of writing, were up from previous years. Conclusion In order to ensure the safe and efficient care of children in the future, we need to invest in encouraging recruitment to Paediatrics. There is clearly a demand amongst potential applicants to find out more about the speciality, and an existing workforce who are passionate to share their experiences of working in order to encourage others to apply. Regular events such as those we have carried out in Yorkshire and Humber provide a platform to do just this.