Summary
Overview
Work history
Skills
Qualifications
Relevant Training Courses
Certification
Teaching and Supervision
Languages
Appraisals
Personal Information
References
Timeline
Generic

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
Claudia Helena Spalding