Election 2015 Party Policy Guide: Child health

Conservatives

Labour

Liberal Democrats

Commentary

Opinion polls place the NHS as one of the electorate's most important issues, which is why all the parties dedicate significant room to it in their manifestos.

All the parties are pledging to provide extra funding to tackle the effects of an aging society, but there is a recognition that more needs to be done to protect the health of children and young people, particularly around tackling the effects of mental health and obesity.

Labour wants to expand school counselling services and ensure teachers are trained to spot pupils' mental health problems and help instill emotional resilience in young people to help them better manage the challenges of life. Another key pledge is to raise the proportion of the mental health budget spent on children and young people's services.

The Tories focus on ensuring the soon-to-be introduced waiting times for accessing services are properly implemented. They also emphasise that more needs to be done to help support new mothers pre- and post-birth.

The Lib Dems have made improving mental health services a flagship policy during their time in government, and boosting mental health services for children would likely feature as a priority for any coalition the party is involved in.