Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

• RCPCH (1996-present)
• College of Paediatrics and Child Health (1996)
• British Paediatric Association (1928-1996)
• BPA (1928-1996)

• Educational
• Medisch

The British Paediatric Association was set up with the aims of advancing the study of paediatrics and to promote friendship amongst paediatricians, and ‘to advance, for the benefit of the public, education in child health and paediatrics and to relieve sickness by promoting improvements in paediatric practice.’

The inaugural meeting was held on 2 February 1928 and, despite invitations to twenty four people, only six attended. Sir George Frederic Still, Professor of Paediatrics at King's College London, became the first President and Dr Donald Paterson, a Canadian paediatrician working in London, was the first Honorary Secretary. The rules were created and the first Annual Scientific Meeting was held later in the year at Windermere, where the focus was on social activities and the presentation of scientific papers.

Following the outbreak of World War Two, the BPA was involved in lobbying central government for measures to safeguard the health of evacuated children, and over the years, the BPA grew to be an organisation that actively sought for improvements in child health. This included publishing papers and guidelines on clinical practice, undertaking research and surveillance, and organising and participating in conferences.

Members of the BPA felt that paediatrics needed to have its own Royal College. For decades, the BPA discussed the logistics of forming a college and, after the case was presented, the Privy Council confirmed they would grant College status in January 1996. The association received its Royal Charter in August 1996 and was designated Royal in October 1996, with HRH The Princess Royal as its Patron.

The new College took responsibility for postgraduate and medical education, including continuing professional development. Today the College has over 20,00 members who are based in the UK and around the world.

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health received its Royal Charter in 1996.

The College is governed by a Board of Trustees and Council, and staff are led by a Senior Leadership Team.

We welcome offers to develop our collection that relate to the history of RCPCH and child health.

The Archive will not usually accept material as a loan. Instead, material will be collected as a deposit.

Our full collection policy is available on our website: https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/resources/archive-collection-policy.

Records are available to view by appointment only, Monday-Thursday.

We are within walking distance, or a short taxi ride, from King’s Cross, Euston & Farringdon rail stations, and close to Holborn, Chancery Lane, and other tube stations.

We have an accessible entrance with ramp, which leads into reception. Our reception desk is lowered suitable for wheelchair use. Archive records are available to view on the ground floor.

More information about accessibility at our building is available on our website: https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/about-us/accessibility-our-building

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