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National variations within the timings of transport to paediatric intensive care from 2018 to 2022: a cohort study

Scarlet-Daisy Prior1, Christopher Leahy2, Michael J Griksaitis3,4

  • 1University of Leeds, Leeds, UK scarlet-daisy.prior@nhs.net.

Archives of Disease in Childhood
|August 17, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Paediatric Critical Care Transport (PCCT) services in the UK and Ireland show significant timing variations. Delays in PCCT mobilization may indicate operational or resource challenges impacting patient access to intensive care.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric critical care medicine
  • Emergency medical services
  • Healthcare access and disparities

Background:

  • Paediatric Critical Care Transport (PCCT) services are vital for transferring critically ill children to specialized care.
  • Significant regional variations in PCCT timings across the UK and Ireland are suspected but not well-documented.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe and compare Paediatric Critical Care Transport (PCCT) timings across different regions in the UK and Ireland.
  • To identify potential challenges and disparities in access to pediatric intensive care units (PICUs).

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study utilizing data from the Paediatric Intensive Care Audit Network.
  • Analysis of emergency transports for children under 16 requiring PICU admission between January 2018 and December 2022.
  • Examination of transport incidence and time metrics, including team mobilization and bedside arrival.

Main Results:

  • Over 20,000 transports were analyzed, with over 40% conducted by services in London and Southeast England.
  • PCCT services in England were the only ones to achieve a median mobilization time under 30 minutes.
  • Nearly 25% of transports in Scotland, Southwest England, South Wales, and Ireland exceeded 3 hours to reach the bedside.

Conclusions:

  • This study is the first to compare PCCT service timings across the UK and Ireland, revealing significant regional differences.
  • Delays in PCCT mobilization highlight potential operational or resource limitations affecting equitable access to critical care.
  • Further investigation into these disparities is warranted to improve patient outcomes.
Abstract

Keywords:
Emergency Service, HospitalIntensive Care Units, PaediatricPaediatric Emergency MedicinePaediatrics

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