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The new Government set out its long-term vision for the future of the NHS in its White Paper, Equity and excellence: liberating the NHS,¹ which puts patients at the centre of everything the NHS does. To complement these proposals, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has published an engagement document specifically focused on the health of children and young people. Achieving equity and excellence for children² proposes how:

• services will be appropriate for children, young people, and their families, and will be personalised to individual needs
• information will be age specific, and routinely available and accessible
• children, young people, and their families will be at the heart of service design and delivery, facilitated by local professionals
• outcomes rather than time-focused targets will be used to measure improvements.

The aim of this paper is to start an ongoing dialogue on how to ensure high-quality services are available for children and young people, and are embedded in mainstream service provision.

The engagement document was published alongside an independent review³ by Professor Sir Ian Kennedy, which was undertaken to examine, understand, and improve the provision of services to children and young people. He proposes that investment is the key, and in answer to those who believe disinvestment is the way forward (given the state of public finances) he suggests a different approach: the integration of services and collaborative working within the NHS and across other agencies, leading to cost savings through greater efficiency, and joint planning and commissioning of services. The challenge for healthcare professionals is re-engagement with the system, changing it for the better. As Professor Kennedy concludes: ‘[The system] cannot change without them. The prize at stake is the chance to be the professionals that they want to be. The greater prize is services for children and young people that they and the NHS can be rightly proud of.’

Julia Morris, Editor
julia.morris@mgp.ltd.uk

References

1. Department of Health. Equity and excellence: liberating the NHS. London: DH, 2010. Available at: www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/LiberatingtheNHS/index.htm (accessed 10 September).
2. Department of Health. Achieving equity and excellence for children. London: DH, 2010. Available at: www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_119449 (accessed 10 September).
3. The Central Office of Information. Getting it right for children and young people—overcoming cultural barriers in the NHS so as to meet their needs. A report by Professor Sir Ian Kennedy. London: COI, 2010. Available at: www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_119445 (accessed 10 September).G

Are you wondering what needs to be done if GPs are to be given real power and responsibility for leading commissioning in the NHS? A briefing paper has been developed jointly by six national organisations including the NAPC and RCGP, and this is available at: coi.gov.uk