On 17 July 2024 Parliament was officially opened with the King’s Speech. The speech can be read in full on .
The speech noted:
- The UK Government’s commitment to improve NHS as a service for all providing care for all regardless of ability to pay focused on reducing waiting times, improve mental health, prevention of ill health.
- Legislation will be introduced on smoking and vaping, expected to be broadly in line with the previous government’s Tobacco and Vapes Bill.
- Legislation will be introduced to ban junk food advertising and energy drink sales.
- Legislation will be introduced to reform the Mental Health Act.
- A bill will be introduced to raise education standards and promote children’s wellbeing [Children’s Wellbeing Bill].
- A draft Bill will be brought forward to ban conversion practices.
RCPCH President, Professor Steve Turner, said:
Today’s King’s Speech comes at a time where children across the UK have some of the worst health outcomes in Europe. Research shows that our children experience worsening physical and mental health and have less access to timely services than before. It is clear that we need direct and meaningful change in the way we approach the health and wellbeing of our young people.
We’re encouraged to see a keen focus on children in today’s King’s Speech, including on smoking and vaping, obesity, mental health, and in the UK Government’s wider Child Health Action Plan. It is also positive to see a Children's Wellbeing Bill that will introduce free breakfast clubs and to strengthen multi-agency child protection and safeguarding. These actions are useful starting points, but as always, the devil is in the detail and the delivery.
The future wellbeing and prosperity of our nation is dependent upon building a solid foundation of health for our next generation. Investing in a healthy and happy childhood for all has never been more important, so it is disappointing to see no mention of lifting the two-child benefit cap yet.
We now look forward to working with the UK Government and MPs across the political spectrum to help create the healthiest generation of children ever – this will include support for the paediatric and wider child health workforce.