QEH Celebrates Dr Gillian Birchwood’s Contribution to Global WHO Paediatric Guidelines

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) is celebrating the contribution of Dr Gillian Birchwood to the development of international guidelines aimed at improving the care and outcomes of children worldwide.

Dr Birchwood made this contribution during her tenure as a Consultant Neonatologist at the QEH. She has since embarked on a new chapter in her medical career after more than two decades as a valued member of the QEH family.

She served on two World Health Organization (WHO) Guideline Development Groups and was one of just 14 experts selected globally. She was also the only expert chosen from Latin America and the Caribbean, bringing the experience and perspective of Barbados and the wider region to this important international work.

The 2nd edition of the WHO guideline on fluid management of acutely ill children developed with Dr Birchwood’s involvement has now been published, following the release of guidelines relating to sickle cell disease earlier this year.

WHO Guideline Development Groups bring together specialists from around the world to critically assess available scientific evidence and formulate recommendations for clinical care. These recommendations can subsequently help countries develop national health policies, clinical guidelines and standards for managing childhood illnesses.

Dr Birchwood said she was particularly proud to have undertaken this work while representing the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Barbados.

“It has been both an honour and a significant professional responsibility to contribute the perspective and experience of our region to global guideline development, particularly as the sole representative from Latin America and the Caribbean within the group,” she said.

She also acknowledged the role that her professional experience at the QEH has played in preparing her to contribute meaningfully to initiatives of this scope and significance.

QEH Chief Executive Officer Neil Clark congratulated Dr Birchwood on the achievement, describing her selection and contribution as an exceptional distinction.

“Her contribution to the development of these WHO guidelines reflects great credit on her personally, as well as on the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Barbados,” Mr Clark said. “We are very proud to see QEH expertise helping to shape paediatric care and policy internationally.”

Dr Birchwood’s work with the two Guideline Development Groups forms part of a wider body of WHO guidance currently under development. Further guidelines addressing bronchiolitis, urinary tract infections, asthma, otitis media, acute mastoiditis, type 1 diabetes mellitus and hypoglycaemia are expected to be published over the next one to two years.

As Dr Birchwood embarks on the next chapter of her medical career, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital thanks her for more than two decades of dedicated service and proudly recognises her contribution to this global initiative. Her work represents a lasting contribution to the QEH, Barbados and the wider Latin American and Caribbean region.

Download the published WHO guideline from the WHO Digital Publications Portal here.