Paediatric intensive care beds: the problem is distribution rather than numbers

EDITOR,—In the past few weeks the media have brought to the public's attention the apparent lack of provision of both paediatric and adult intensive care services in Britain. In July 1993 Shann noted that Britain's paediatric intensive care service was extraordinarily fragmented and suggested that it would be better to have 12-14 large paediatric units each with 14-16 beds.1 In November that year a working party of the British Paediatric Association made recommendations for improving the provision of intensive care services for children.2 While agreeing with most of Shann's …