Major delay for child health strategy

By Sarah Cooper and Alison Bennett Wednesday, 07 May 2008

Details of government proposals to improve children and young people's health have been postponed by several months.

A health consultation. Credit: Alex Deverill

The child health strategy, which The Children's Plan stated would be published in the spring, has now been put back to the autumn.

Hilary Samson-Barry, programme director for partnerships, children, families and maternity at the Department of Health, revealed the hold-up at 4Children's Creating Opportunities, Building Futures conference last week.

"The strategy will have an early autumn publication, but it will be delayed because there are a number of other things happening," she said. "There's the 60th anniversary of the NHS and health minister Lord Darzi is building a next stage review called Our NHS, Our Future."

Anne Longfield, chief executive of 4Children, said the delay was a disappointment. "There's a real urgency about ensuring children are explicitly on the health agenda and demonstrating that the Department of Health and the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) are working together, which the strategy will do," she said.

The Local Government Association said the delay was welcome if it resulted in a better strategy. "We're pleased the government recognises the need for improvement and hope it can be achieved without undue delay," said a spokesman. "But if the delay is in the interest of children and young people we would be supportive."

News of the postponement comes after MPs on the Children, Schools and Families Select Committee criticised the lack of targets and timescales in The Children's Plan (CYP Now, 23-29 April).

Samson-Barry said the strategy would focus on building co-operation between the dep-artments. "We've got a strong plan for partnership working and an unprecedented opportunity for children but there are major challenges to tackle," she said. "The focus is going to be very much on speaking to parents, families and young people."

Speaking at the 4Children conference, John Coughlan, director of children's services at Hampshire County Council, said: "The strategy could be an opportunity to redesign how children's health works and I think we probably need that."