Children growing up in England today face some of the worst health outcomes in Europe, with those in the most deprived areas suffering most. The Health and Care Bill therefore represents a welcome opportunity to tackle health inequalities – including for children, and to integrate health and care services.
A core aim of the proposed Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) is to reduce inequalities. To achieve this, improving children’s health outcomes should be a key priority within this legislation. For children, health starts at home, at school and in the neighbourhood. Almost a third of children growing up in poverty will suffer worse health outcomes and a reduced life expectancy than their peers - often taking health issues with them into adulthood.
Andrea Leadsom’s Best Start for Life Review found that receiving high quality care during a child’s early years can lead to better physical and emotional health outcomes throughout a person’s life. Intervening earlier has the potential to circumvent longer-term costs of poor health to the UK economy and the NHS. However, as drafted, the Bill fails to recognise and address the needs of children.