Mr Streeting has appointed Professor Lord Ara Darzi, surgeon, independent peer and former health minister, to lead the rapid assessment, which will be delivered in September.
We understand its findings will provide the basis for the Government’s 10-year plan.
In response Professor Steve Turner, President of RCPCH said:
It is positive to see that the new Government is taking seriously the real need for transformation within the NHS. They have brought in a vastly experienced doctor and politician to lead the review.
At present the UK has some of the worst child health outcomes in Europe. Our members and other staff providing child health services across the UK are being asked to face ever-increasing demands, but without additional support. Services providing healthcare for children in the community, in primary and secondary care all need investment, and our infrastructure needs urgent attention.
Children are 25% of our population and 100% of the future. Regrettably, recent policy, agendas and reforms within the health system have failed to address the specific needs of children and services providing for them; instead, the focus has been on the needs of an ageing population. Our blueprint for child health services, launching in September, will set a clear roadmap for getting children’s services back on track and deliver the healthiest generation of children in our history.
On behalf of our members, I call on the Government to improve health services for children and young people. Our college stands ready to work with Lord Darzi and his team on this review, and with the new Government on a 10-year long term plan. We are clear that in this review and in any subsequent work, child health and its workforce must be at the centre.