Responding to the establishment of the working group, Professor Viner said:
“I am delighted to be a part of NHS England’s Healthy Child and Maternity Working Group, and look forward to helping shape the Long Term Plan for infants, children and young people. With health outcomes for children in this country lagging behind the rest of Western Europe, it is great to see child health enshrined as a priority for the NHS.
"In the coming months I will work closely with colleagues on the working group to develop a plan for action that will result in real improvement in the health and wellbeing of infants, children, young people and their families. A number of crucial measures are needed to improve child health, including an integrated healthcare system that is seamlessly connected to the other services children rely on, a focus on prevention and early intervention, and meaningful action to ensure that children and young people are central to the development of child health services.
"We have a big task ahead of us, but the establishment of this group is a welcome first step in the road towards achieving a child health system that is the envy of the world. I am excited to get started!”