Tom Rance

Paediatrician & NIHR researcher. Children’s health policy advisor.

[Ben @BenShindel]

Is @guardian aware that their authors are at this point just using AI to wholesale generate entire articles? I wouldn't really care, except that this writing is genuinely atrocious. LLM writing can be so much better; they're clearly not even using the best models, lol!

[Tom Rance @DrTomRance]

@Sam_in_Cam Can I ask if you’re doing this as someone who is worried about the fundamental issue of free speech or because you agree with his views on trans people? (Or both)

[Tom Rance @DrTomRance]

@AnnieChave @Erraticscc @jphingram the purist 😍

[Daniel Gallan @danielgallan]

Nasser Hussain, even in the afterglow of one of the greatest series of all time, shows real class:

"Not every country has the luxuries we have. So we, and India and Australia, have to keep an eye out for the future of Test cricket.. and look after those who are not as fortunate"

[Ava-Santina @AvaSantina]

Time to stop using @WeTransfer who from 8th August have decided they'll own anything you transfer to power AI

[Tom Rance @DrTomRance]

@NoContextCounty Don’t forget outgrounds please. Sedbergh and Scarborough should get a test each.

[Tom Rance @DrTomRance]

Disappointing article about MRI safety shared by the @RCPCHtweets safety bulletin.
Mentions "discouraging personal belongings e.g. stuffed animals" to improve MRI safety but no mention of reducing the need for sedation through play! https://t.co/cqNziAIvVe @starlight_uk

[Centre for Young Lives @CfYoungLives]

Today our year-long Raising the Nation Play Commission into why play is critical to the wellbeing and development of children publishes its Final Report, #EverythingToPlayFor.

It’s time to reclaim childhood with a National Play Strategy for England.

https://t.co/gZGryzhWdQ

[Tom Rance @DrTomRance]

@RobertMSterling I like the description that MBAs are “Union cards for yuppies” as described by Peter Robinson.

[Tom Rance @DrTomRance]

A reminder to all that it Vitamin D supplementation is recommended for all children aged 1-4 in the UK. This is regardless of any tests, ethnicity or time of year.

Free vitamins are available for some young children.

[Mary Talley Bowden MD @MaryBowdenMD]

Vitamin D deficiency is the most common lab abnormality I see.

206/285 patients I’ve tested - or 72% - had levels below 50ng/ml.

[ADC @ADC_BMJ]

Viewpoint
Who decides: should the UK limit access to paediatric critical care?
Case mix changing, 60% of children in PICU have life-limiting conditions
https://t.co/VelMQ66odc

[Tom Rance @DrTomRance]

Unbelievable, deeply shameful and embarrassing that the only paediatrician in parliament is @drcarolinej.

Her response today to @wesstreeting is such an obvious example of the lack of talent available in the @Conservatives party.

#NHS #NHSE

[Tom Rance @DrTomRance]

@LegallyRugby Such a good point. It’s been bothering me for a while in lots of these admittedly amazing finishes. This is not the NFL.

[Tom Rance @DrTomRance]

@CANZUK Will barriers to medical personnel be removed I.e will all four countries agree to accept degrees and postgraduate training to allow the exchange of talented doctors etc. and facilitate learning from different systems?

[Eugene Minogue @EugeneMinogue]

'To Play or Not to Play: Mapping Unequal Provision of Children’s Playgrounds' - @SheffieldUni

The largest study on English playgrounds maps deep inequalities in play space access and provides a new framework to guide interventions across our towns and cities.

📰 https://t.co/XWop8KzvmF

📊 Key insight: In some areas, there are five times more children per playground than others, disproportionately affecting deprived communities ⤵️

✅ Leicester has 4x more of its area devoted to playgrounds than Leeds
✅ Norwich has nearly 5x more playgrounds per child than Liverpool
✅ In London, Islington has 5x the playground space per area compared to Barnet

🔍 A new framework for targeted action
🏗️ Strategic expansion where playgrounds are well-located but too small
📌 New site identification for cities with major playground shortages
🎯 Better placement of large playgrounds that are currently in the wrong locations.

📢 What needs to change?
🔹 We need Play Sufficiency legislation to ensure local authorities plan for and secure equitable play opportunities
🔹 We need a new National Play Strategy to systematically address play inequalities and ensure every child has the right to play
🔹 We need investment in play infrastructure focusing on deprived areas using this evidence-based framework
🔹 We need play embedded in Planning & Placemaking to ensure children and play are at the heart of urban and community design.

🌍 Why This Matters
Play is essential for children’s health, well-being, and social development - yet access remains dictated by geography and deprivation. Without a strategic, national approach, inequalities will persist.

This study provides further compelling evidence to shape national policy, investment, and planning decisions ensuring all children, regardless of postcode, have access to high-quality, inclusive play spaces.

Play is not a luxury – it’s essential for children’s wellbeing, development, and happiness. At @PlayEngland we are clear that it’s time for Government to act ⤵️

📰 https://t.co/ipHCuqTRqP

We must take forward these bold policy changes to give children their childhood back. Together, we can create a nation where play is not just valued—but protected, supported, and meaningfully implemented.

🚸🌿🍁🍂🪵 🚲 🛴 🛹🛼 🛝 🏃🏼‍♂️🏃🏼‍♀️🏃🏾👩‍🦽🚴🏿🚏🚶🏻🤸🏾‍♂️🤸🏼‍♂️🌳🏘️

#PlaySufficiency #NationalPlayStrategy #Playgrounds #Play #Playces #PlanningForPlay #NPPF #ChildrensWellbeing #RightToPlay #UNCRC #Article31 #PlayCommission #StateOfPlay #PhysicalLiteracy #PhysicalActivity #FreerangeUrbanNeighbourhoods #FUN

[Tom Rance @DrTomRance]

@DrMicMartin @DrPaulBrindley @Land_MDPI @SSoA_news @USPSheffield @SheffSocScience @DrAmandaSeims definitely something to look into for PUSH!

[Tom Rance @DrTomRance]

Risky play is necessary!

[Paul Lindley OBE @Paul_Lindley]

Just a normal day for these 🇩🇰 5&6 year olds (in kindergarten NOT Yr 1). Outdoors, playing, learning life skills, trusted with Stanley knifes, axes, hammers, secateurs & flints- making pencils & fire at Copenhagen nature park- giving #RaisingtheNation Play Commission 🩷 insight.

[Paul Lindley OBE @Paul_Lindley]

Just a normal day for these 🇩🇰 5&6 year olds (in kindergarten NOT Yr 1). Outdoors, playing, learning life skills, trusted with Stanley knifes, axes, hammers, secateurs & flints- making pencils & fire at Copenhagen nature park- giving #RaisingtheNation Play Commission 🩷 insight.

[Centre for Young Lives @CfYoungLives]

More on our interim report published today.

Children playing outside far less amid ‘no ball games’ culture, study shows https://t.co/sCrPxNNhFd

[Tom Rance @DrTomRance]

@YouGov I swear we used to call this ‘knocky eye door’ but that doesn’t make much sense.