RCPCH responds to government pledge to reduce child deaths

Commenting on the Government's pledge to reduce child deaths as part of its response to the Children and Young People's Health Outcomes Forum, President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, Dr Hilary Cass, said:

'Putting children and young people at the heart of the NHS is our primary concern – and the Children and Young People’s Health Outcomes Framework marks a significant step in measuring just how far our healthcare service is fit for purpose.

'We are encouraged by the Government’s open commitment to the Framework, including improving the transition of children with long-term conditions into adult care, producing quality standards, introducing a unique NHS number for children and engaging young people in shaping their health service.

'The RCPCH will be directly involved in a number of areas, which include enhancing the use of medicines in children and working with GPs to ensure paediatrics is part of their training.

'The fact that the Chief Medical Officer will be chairing this new forum is a mark of how serious the government is taking the child health agenda but it’s crucial that this momentum is maintained and that outcomes are regularly measured to drive improvements. Alongside this, it’s important to look at how we can make sure children’s healthcare is of high quality, safe and sustainable. Through our Child Health Reviews UK research programme we are working to reduce child deaths through identifying causes and informing practice. The RCPCH will be publishing the results of our Facing the Future audit in April which will give further detail on why reconfiguration is such an essential part of providing a safe and sustainable service.'