RCPCH responds to the new Health Bill with five key principles to guide NHS reform
Last week, MPs debated the UK Government’s new Health Bill, also known as the NHS Modernisation Bill. The proposed reforms aim to represent a significant reshaping of how decisions are made, services delivered and patient voices heard across the NHS.
The Bill has been framed as mainly technical legislation to enact reforms already announced by the Government, such as the abolition of NHS England and introduction of the Single Patient Record.
However, the RCPCH has said:
"These reforms represent a significant reshaping of how decisions are made, services are delivered, and patient voice is heard across the NHS. As such, they have the potential to profoundly impact the work of paediatricians, the delivery of children’s health services, and ultimately whether the UK Government’s own ambition to create the healthiest generation of children ever will be realised. "
It has briefed MPs on five key principles that it says should guide NHS reform under this Bill:
The needs of children and young people, and the paediatric workforce are central to national health and care policy decisions.
Services are designed with and for children, young people and their families / carers and there are suitable mechanisms and opportunities for feedback.
Children’s health services are prioritised and funded within Integrated Care Board plans, with national oversight and accountability to improve child health outcomes.
Children and young people have timely access to appropriate information about their condition and care.
Workforce planning must recognise the unique needs of children and young people and address pressures across the child health workforce.
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