Children and Young People's Health Outcomes Forum recommends leadership, accountability and outcomes for children in the NHS

Thursday 26^th July 2012

Campaign urges Government to accept recommendations as a matter of urgency

The Children and Young People's Health Outcomes Forum, co-Chaired by EDCM Board Member Christine Lenehan, has today (26 July) published recommendations to improve health services for all children and young people.

The Children and Young People's Health Outcomes Forum was established by the Secretary of State for Health in January 2012 in response to campaigning by supporters of the Every Disabled Child Matters campaign (EDCM). Its task was to identify the health outcomes which matter most to children and young people and establish how each part of the health system can support the delivery of these outcomes.

The key themes on which the Forum has made recommendations are:

• Putting children and young people at the heart of what happens
• Acting early and intervening at the right time
• Integration and partnership
• Safe and sustainable services
• Workforce, education and training
• Knowledge and evidence
• Leadership, accountability and assurance
• Incentives

EDCM has warmly welcomed the Forum's report, which directly picks up on calls from families with disabled children for greater leadership, accountability and integration for children in the NHS, and improved health outcomes for disabled children.

Laura Courtney, EDCM Campaign Manager, said:'We are delighted that the Children and Young People's Health Outcomes Forum has set a clear agenda for improvements in child health. This report must be taken to heart by all levels of the health service, from GPs, to Commissioners, to members of Health and Wellbeing Boards and the NHS Commissioning Board. Most of all, we urge the Secretary of State for Health to respond by fully implementing the recommendations of this report as a matter of urgency.'

She went on to say: 'It is also crucial to the success of the current reforms to services for disabled children through the Children and Families Bill that they are brought in line with the recommendations of this report. We call on Sarah Teather MP, Children and Families Minister, to make these links clear when draft legislation is published in September.'

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors:

1. The Children and Young People's Health Outcomes Forum report is available from the Department of Health website: http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/07/cyp-report/
2. Read a brief analysis of the report by the Council for Disabled Children here.