The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health’s (RCPCH) new report, 'From left behind to leading the way: a blueprint for transforming child health services in England’, finds that children are waiting longer than adults to access healthcare, paediatric services are not recovering at the same rates as adult services and there is a growing gap between demand and capacity.
This has coincided with an unprecedented increased demand for children’s health services, which is forecast to grow further due to both preventable and non-preventable increases in childhood illness.
The Academy of Medical Sciences welcomes this comprehensive blueprint, which aligns closely with our own recent findings on child health and reinforces the critical importance of early intervention and prevention in improving long-term health outcomes and economic prosperity.
Vice President (Clinical), Professor Rosalind Smyth, has issued the following statement in response:
"We welcome the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health's blueprint for transforming child health services in England. Their recommendations align closely with our own recent findings and underscore the critical importance of prioritising child health as part of the Government’s Missions to improve population health, reduce inequalities and drive economic prosperity.
"Both the Academy's child health report and the RCPCH's blueprint emphasise a crucial message: while no single age period determines health outcomes, prevention and early intervention in childhood is effective and cost-efficient compared to opportunities later in life. Our findings collectively emphasise that investing in child health yields significant long-term benefits for individuals and society.
"We strongly support the RCPCH's call for a renewed focus on children's health services and wholeheartedly agree that a 'child health in all policies' approach is essential across government. Both our reports provide clear, actionable recommendations for improving health and wellbeing not only for today's children, but for the adults they will become. The Academy stands ready to support the Government’s vital work in creating a healthier future for all."
- Find out more about the Academy’s work on child health and #ThriveByFive.
- Read the full RCPCH report on the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health website.