For immediate release: 26 January 2012
NCB welcomes 'landmark
opportunity' to create an NHS for children and young
people
Re: Today's launch of the Children's
and Young People's Forum (Thurs 26 Jan 2012)
The Government's new Children's and Young People's Forum has
been set up 'to maximise health outcomes for all children and young
people, showing how all parts of the health system, with partners,
will contribute to enabling every child and every young person to
reach their full potential'.
The National Children's Bureau (NCB) welcomes the launch of the
Forum. And believes it can help create a step change in the way
health services involve and address the needs of children and young
people.
National Children's Bureau's deputy chief executive, Barbara
Hearn OBE said: "We see this as a landmark opportunity to create a
health system with a real focus on the needs of children and young
people. This includes how they are spoken to and consulted with as
well as their specific medical and health requirements."
A yet to be released survey by the charity shows that over a
quarter of the young people sampled felt uncomfortable about
visiting their GP; they felt embarrassed, found it hard to explain
their health problems, and felt judged. They also had concerns
about confidentiality, and not understanding the advice given.
She continued: "It is imperative that the reforms of the NHS and
the wider health system give children a much stronger say in
decisions about local services, and indeed their own individual
care and treatments.
"We want the Forum's work to have a positive impact on the lives
of children and young people especially our most disadvantaged -
looked after children, disabled children, and those caught up in
the youth justice system."
NCB welcomes the appointment of its deputy chief executive,
Barbara Hearn OBE to the Forum. This is a testament to her wealth
of experience working with and for children over the last thirty
years, and includes her current role at the charity.
Ends
NCB media office on 020 7843 6045 / 6047 or media@ncb.org.uk
Out of hours mobile: 07721 097 033.
Notes to editors
The National Children's Bureau (NCB)
The National Children's Bureau is a leading research and
development charity working to improve the lives of children and
young people, especially the most vulnerable. We work with
children, for children to reduce the impact of inequalities, by
influencing government policy, being the voice for 200,000
front-line professionals, and inspiring practical solutions on a
range of social issues including health, education and youth
justice, through our extensive research and evidence work. Every
year we reach more than 100,000 children and young people through
our membership scheme, links with voluntary, statutory and private
organisations, and the 30 specialist partnership programmes that
operate under our charitable status.
The Children's and Young People's Forum
The Children's and Young People's Forum has been designed on the
NHS Future Forum model. The Forum will build on work already
planned through the Health and Well-being Board learning network
and the SEN and Disability Pathfinder programme.
http://mediacentre.dh.gov.uk/2012/01/26/improving-health-results-for-children/
The Forum will have 52 members, invited by the Secretary of
State, and meet once a month over a three month period of
engagement with appropriate stakeholders (January to March), before
reporting back and submitting their recommendations to the
Government later in the year.