As we approach the next Scottish Parliament election, our focus has been on setting out what children, young people and the workforce need from the next government. Our manifesto, The Prescription for Change, is the product of months of collaboration, discussion and insight from those who understand the system best – our members. Paediatricians across Scotland see daily where services are working well and where they are falling short. The reality is that the gap between what children need and what the system can currently provide is widening.
Developing our manifesto
We wanted this manifesto to reflect the real experiences of children, families and the workforce. To do that, we surveyed our members, engaged with the Scottish Executive Committee and listened to children and young people through RCPCH &Us. Their feedback was consistent: services are under pressure, inequalities are growing, mental health is declining and poverty continues to impact every aspect of children’s lives.
Children and young people may not be able to vote, but the decisions made in the next parliament will shape their health and wellbeing for years to come. Their voices, alongside those of the child health workforce, informed every part of this manifesto and helped us identify the areas where action is most urgently needed.
Why this manifesto is important
With the next election fast approaching, decisions made in the coming months will shape the future of child health. Scotland’s paediatric workforce and health system at large are under significant pressure and to secure the best possible services, we need political leaders to understand these challenges and commit to change. That is why raising awareness and influencing policy is at the heart of our work.
The RCPCH Scotland team and I, as Scottish Officer, represent the views of our members to politicians and policymakers, ensuring paediatricians’ voices are heard where decisions are made. This manifesto is a key tool to drive that change.
The themes in The Prescription for Change reflect what members told us is essential to secure a healthier future for children and young people in Scotland:
- Data that delivers: Close child health data gaps to support evidence based planning, integrate IT systems to reduce duplication, and improve cross sector data sharing to ensure coordinated support
- The power of prevention: Address the root causes of poor health by reducing child poverty, raise awareness of health harming behaviours, and invest in early intervention and prevention
- Healing young minds: Strengthen mental health and neurodevelopmental services through targeted investment, early intervention and coordinated, inclusive care
- Strengthening child health services: Reduce long waiting times and improve access by investing in community services, supporting smooth transitions to adult services, and embedding children’s and families’ voices in service design
- Investing in the child health workforce: Strategic investment, robust workforce data and inclusive planning are needed to build capacity and resilience within the paediatric workforce
Child health is multifaceted, and our recommendations reflect that. But if there is one golden thread running through every part of this manifesto, it is this:
Equitable investment in child health services is essential
Children make up a significant proportion of Scotland’s population, yet the services that support them often receive less attention and fewer resources compared to adult services. This affects waiting times, access to specialist care and the ability of teams to focus on prevention. When children don’t receive timely, coordinated care, the effects ripple outward into schools, into communities, and into the long‑term health of the population.
Scotland has made clear commitments to improving outcomes, reducing inequalities and supporting families. But those ambitions cannot be realised if child health continues to be treated as an afterthought. If Scotland wants to build a healthier, fairer future, prioritising child health must become non negotiable. It requires sustained investment, clear national leadership and a recognition that children’s services are foundational to the country’s wellbeing. The health of Scotland's children is the key to ensuring the future health and success of Scotland.
Dr Mairi Stark, RCPCH Officer for Scotland