Claudia Helena Spalding
Summary
Experienced and dedicated Consultant Paediatrician with over 25 years of international clinical experience. Fully registered as a Specialist in Paediatrics in both the UK and Portugal. Since 2013, I have worked at Consultant level within the NHS, initially in a staff-grade adaptation post before progressing to substantive Consultant positions. My current role involves clinical leadership in a busy UK Paediatric Emergency Department. I am highly engaged in education, governance, simulation training, and service development. Completed RCPCH-aligned sub-specialty training in Paediatric Emergency Medicine. Committed to advancing emergency medicine practices through evidence-based approaches and innovative solutions.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work history
Consultant in Paediatric Emergency Medicine (Clinical Lead)
Royal Blackburn Hospital
Decreased hours whilst secondment AHCH
12.2019 - 09.2025
- Leads clinical care in a high-volume Paediatric ED (~55,000 annual attendances), with responsibility for stabilisation, procedural sedation, and trauma leadership.
- Supervises a multidisciplinary team of junior doctors, ACPs, ENPs, and nurses across resus, minors, majors, and observation units.
- Leads in departmental audits, quality improvement, clinical incident reviews, and implementation of evidence-based guidelines.
- Paediatric safeguarding lead for ED; attends Trust-level safeguarding and mortality meetings, with involvement in policy reviews.
- Organises and leads simulation training, scenario debriefs, and teaching programmes for doctors and nurses.
- Promotes collaborative working with general paediatrics, surgical specialties, anaesthesia, and external MDT partners.
- Responsible for service development in paediatric emergency care, including pathway refinement and interdepartmental protocols.
PEM Secondment (Sub-specialty Training)
Alder Hey Children’s Hospital
10.2022 - 01.2024
- RCPCH-mapped training including major trauma, sedation, airway management, resus leadership, PICU exposure, and PEM curriculum completion.
Consultant in Paediatric Emergency Medicine & General Paediatrics
Royal Blackburn Hospital
12.2019 - 10.2022
- Worked across Paeds ED, COAU, HDU, and inpatient areas, as paediatric consultant lead in Paediatric Emergency Department.
- Led multidisciplinary teams to develop and implement effective clinical protocols for paediatric emergency management.
- Led MDT response to acutely unwell children and inter-hospital transfers; contributed to PEM education and audit delivery.
Senior Clinical Fellow – PICU & NWTS
Alder Hey Children’s Hospital
09.2018 - 12.2019
- Provided care for critically ill children; performed procedures including intubation and line access; worked on retrievals with NWTS.
SAS Doctor – Paediatrics
Royal Blackburn Hospital
02.2014 - 09.2018
- Although in an SAS post, worked at Consultant-equivalent level based on full GMC Specialist Registration.
- Led acute paediatrics and COAU care; supported HDU and supervised junior teams.
Consultant Paediatrician
Hospital Distrital São Bernardo, Portugal
02.2007 - 10.2013
- Led neonatal and paediatric services; sole overnight Consultant managing high-risk cases and ward emergencies.
Skills
- Airway management
- Intubation
- Non-invasive ventilation
- Procedural sedation
- Fracture management
- Dislocation management
- POCUS
- Vascular access
- FAST
- Ultrasound-guided nerve blocks
- Resuscitation leadership
- Trauma response
- Guideline development
- Computer proficiency
- Electronic Medical Records (EMR) systems
- Emergency medicine specialist
Qualifications
- MD (MBChB equivalent), Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil – Dec 1995
- Specialist in Paediatrics – Brazil – Nov 1998
- Sub-specialist in Allergy & Immunology – Brazil – May 2001
- PEM Sub-specialty Training, RCPCH ePortfolio – UK – 2022–2023
Relevant Training Courses
• European Trauma Course (ETC), Nov 2024
• Advanced Paediatric Life Support (APLS), Resuscitation Council UK, July 2021
• Leadership & Management for Consultants, Attended all 4 modules between October 2022 - January 2023
• Simulation Faculty Development – Debriefing Effectively (Masterclass), March 2023
•Safeguarding Children Level 3 Face to Face Sessions, April 2023
Certification
- General Medical Council, UK – Specialist Registration in Paediatrics (No. 7161703, May 2013)
- Portuguese Medical Association – Specialist in Paediatrics (No. 45060, Feb 2007)
- Brazilian Medical Council – Specialist in Paediatrics (No. 83452, Nov 1998)
Teaching and Supervision
- Delivered OSCE and clinical skills teaching for medical students at University of Central Lancashire (UCLan).
- Completed formal training in Educational Supervision (RCEM) and Simulation Faculty Development.
- Co-leads monthly in situ simulation for paediatric trauma, sedation, HDU transfers, and resus scenarios.
- Supervision and bedside teaching for ACP development and ED junior doctors; supports portfolio reviews and work-based assessments.
- Faculty for the East Lancashire PEM Teaching Programme; delivered PEM sessions including paediatric imaging, trauma, and resuscitation.
- Educational Supervisor for F2 doctors, GP trainees, ACCS trainees, ACPs, and medical students in Paediatrics and ED.
Languages
English
Fluent
Portuguese
Native
Spanish
Intermediate
Appraisals
· Annual appraisal in the UK since 2014
Personal Information
Date of birth: 09/28/70
References
- Dr Chris Gardner, Consultant Paediatrician, Royal Blackburn Hospital, chris.gardner@elht.nhs.uk
- Dr Mehdi Hassan Teeli, Consultant ED, Royal Blackburn Hospital, hassan.teeli@elht.nhs.uk
- Dr Bimal Mehta, Consultant Paediatric ED, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, bimal.mehta@alderhey.nhs.uk
Timeline
PEM Secondment (Sub-specialty Training)
Alder Hey Children’s Hospital
10.2022 - 01.2024
Consultant in Paediatric Emergency Medicine (Clinical Lead)
Royal Blackburn Hospital
12.2019 - 09.2025
Consultant in Paediatric Emergency Medicine & General Paediatrics
Royal Blackburn Hospital
12.2019 - 10.2022
Senior Clinical Fellow – PICU & NWTS
Alder Hey Children’s Hospital
09.2018 - 12.2019
SAS Doctor – Paediatrics
Royal Blackburn Hospital
02.2014 - 09.2018
Consultant Paediatrician
Hospital Distrital São Bernardo, Portugal
02.2007 - 10.2013