Teaching and learning in outpatients and beyond: how ambulatory care teaching can contribute to student learning in child health

The arena of paediatrics and child health can provide plentiful and rich opportunities for student learning. With adequate preparation and by utilising the different learning environments available, we can ensure that students have a varied and comprehensive placement, which will equip them with the necessary core skills in paediatrics. Good undergraduate training in paediatrics has implications for our future work force, in that students who experience enthusiastic and stimulating training in paediatrics may be more likely to become paediatricians. 19 20 We owe it to our patients to help train 'tomorrow's doctors' to be child-centred in their approach, be they general practitioners, orthopaedic surgeons or paediatricians.