As important as the health needs of an ageing population are, political short-termism and competing priorities mean that child health too readily slips down the priority list.
With the UK rates for child mortality among the worst in Western Europe and an estimated 2,000 excess deaths a year compared to the best performing country, we cannot allow children to be ignored. That is why we will be campaigning to ensure there are clear commitments to improving child health.
There is ongoing debate around how the NHS meets the demands of a growing population. But again, too often this is framed around how we cope with people living longer. In fact, latest figures show the birth rate in the UK is at its highest since 1972, resulting in increasing pressures on paediatric services. We need bold leadership to respond to these changing demographics; overcoming the notion that the hospital is the "happening place to be" and delivering more care in community settings; creating fewer, specialised hubs of medical care backed by strong local provision and making sure GPs have enough paediatric training.
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