Perhaps we should not be too surprised - Ian Kennedy's recent report underlined how children have always tended to be overlooked by those in charge of the NHS. Although children constitute about 25 per cent of the visits to GP surgeries, 40 per cent of GPs have not received any special training in child health. And the top priorities for the NHS as a whole have always been those conditions that affect mainly adults - heart disease, cancer, strokes.
Now, though, we need the government to focus on children. Although there are several aspects of the government's health reforms that could benefit children, at the moment they almost certainly won't. For example, the new proposed system for listening to the views of patients still does not make clear that children are patients too - just like every previous system. This time we must make sure that Healthwatch does it better.
Similarly, there is nothing wrong with increasing the role of doctors in choosing which services are provided. But why concentrate only on GPs? For many children with complex health needs, such as disabled children, GPs tend to refer them on to a paediatrician, and stay well out of things. Increase GP input by all means, but open up the process to other clinicians too.
Most importantly, we must not undermine the attempts to bring together the planning of children's services across health, social care and education. PCTs largely covered the same areas as local authorities; we must ensure GP groups do the same.
Our health system today is far from child-friendly. In the future it must be better.
Sir Paul Ennals is chief executive of NCB
