The Healthy Child, Healthy Future Framework is a valuable tool in the planning, commissioning, and cross-departmental working to improve child health outcomes in Northern Ireland.
The last Framework was drastically outdated, having been published in 2010. This update provides a unique opportunity to transform children’s health and wellbeing in Northern Ireland.
RCPCH is calling on the Department of Health to seize this opportunity by investing the children health workforce, particularly within community services and develop an overarching child health workforce strategy, taking a whole system, long-term approach to recruitment and retention.
RCPCH Officer for Ireland, Dr Thomas Bourke said:
“Paediatricians welcome the revised Healthy Child, Healthy Future Framework, which incorporates many of the principles from RCPCH Ireland’s fifth edition of Child Health for All . The importance of implementing a regional child health promotion programme cannot be overstated.
“In Northern Ireland today infant mortality rates remain higher among the most disadvantaged, steadily declining rates of the routine childhood vaccinations is resulting in resurgence of once eliminated diseases and levels of unhealthy weight remains concerningly high. These unfortunate trends are hurting our children and putting unprecedented levels of pressure and demand on NI’s child health workforce.
“This updated Framework is ambitious, but this is the much-needed standard for infants, children and young people if we are to make meaningful and long-lasting change. It is now imperative that the NI Executive enables commissioners to both fund services and empower healthcare professionals to deliver its long-term rollout.
“We look forward to supporting the Department of Health and associated bodies through the ongoing engagement and implementation groups”.