Local authorities urged to take action to improve children’s health
Call to sign up to 'better health outcomes for children and young people pledge'.
Children’s health minister Dr Dan Poulter has joined with other experts to ask local authorities to sign up to the government’s pledge to do everything possible to improve children’s health.
They are also asking local authorities to publish and share good examples of what they are doing for children’s health in their own areas.
Dr Poulter, along with the president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, the co-chairs of the Children and Young People’s Health Outcomes Forum and the Local Government Association, say that local authorities and health and wellbeing boards are in a prime position to improve the poor health outcomes experienced by children and young people.
In a letter to lead members for children’s services and chairs of health and wellbeing boards, they say:
If all local areas were as good as the best, together we could improve children and young people’s quality of life now, and their ability to live fulfilling lives as they move through childhood.
Health Minister Dr Dan Poulter said:
The government is leading the agenda to improve the health of children and reduce the unacceptable variations in children and young people’s health that we have seen in the past in this country. We have come together to write this letter because children’s health is an issue we want right at the top of the agenda, not just for the NHS, but also for local councils who play such an important role in giving each and every child the very best start in life.
It is local authorities who play a vital role in making the local changes that can make the biggest difference. There is a lot of good work going on out there but I want all local areas to be as good as the best.