The National Children’s Bureau fully supports the government’s manifesto commitment to raise the healthiest generation of children ever. The Prime Minister’s focus on reducing waiting lists, and the Elective Care Reform Plan published today, are crucial parts of delivering this ambition.
Children’s waiting lists for NHS care have increased to a record high, and in some cases have grown at double the rate for adults. Failure to provide children with timely access to healthcare can irreparably damage childhoods and lead to greater need in the long run.
Despite this, children have too often been an afterthought in national policymaking, which is why we warmly welcome the commitment in the Elective Reform Plan to deliver the 18-week standard and improve elective care “equitably and inclusively” for adults, children and young people.
We also welcome the requirement that NHS England publish a suite of adult and children’s elective performance metrics, a recommendation in the Children and Young People’s Health Policy Influencing Group’s Roadmap for the Healthiest of Generation of Children. This data should specifically include the length of time children are waiting for treatment after their initial appointment.
However, timely access to services will only deliver improved outcomes for children if it is delivered by well-skilled professionals who feel valued and have manageable caseloads. The government must commit to fully funding and delivering the Long-Term Workforce Plan and, at the earliest possible opportunity, update it with a stronger and clearer focus on staff working in children’s health services.
Finally, work to improve patient experience and increase choice must recognise that what makes a positive experience of care for adults cannot simply be applied to babies, children and young people. The Government must address the ways in which children grow and develop, and how they become more involved in managing their health. At the same time, health services must collect meaningful feedback in ways that work for children and young people at different stages of development, so their experiences shape improvements to the NHS and other services.