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The Forum was composed of individuals with a wide range of expertise and a shared commitment to improving healthcare for children and young people. 

It was asked to:

• identify the health outcomes that matter most for children and young people
• consider how well these are supported by the NHS and Public Health Outcomes Frameworks
• make recommendations
• set out the contribution that each part of the new health system needs to make in order that these health outcomes are achieved. 

Forum recommendations

The Forum makes a number of recommendations, including:

• with immediate effect, all data about children and young people should be presented in five-year age bands through childhood and the teenage years
• four new outcome indicators should be included in the NHS Outcomes Framework
• all health organisations must demonstrate how they have listened to the voice of children and young people, and how this will improve their health outcomes
• the NHS Number should be used as the unique identifier to bring together health, education and social care data for all children and young people
• the NHS Commissioning Board and Monitor should prioritise and promote the issue of integrated care provision in their regulatory and performance roles within the NHS, and work with the Care Quality Commission and Ofsted in developing a framework across non-health providers. 

Commenting on publication of the report on 26 July, NHS Confederation chief executive Mike Farrar said: "This is an important piece of work. The Forum's recommendations should be given careful consideration by the Government and all parts of the system working to improve the health of children and young people. 

"We have previously said there is the potential for children's services to become fragmented as the health reforms get underway, and we are pleased that this work addresses some of the areas where our members have raised concerns." 

Focus on increased integration of services welcomed 

The NHS Confederation has worked closely with the Forum to put forward our views and recommendations. Mike added: "We are encouraged to see it has taken these on board. It is good to see a particular focus on greater involvement of children and their families in shaping healthcare, the importance of specialised education and training, increased integration of services and patient pathways and strengthening the safeguarding of children and young people within the system." 

He continued: "One of the main challenges for improving care is to make sure that wider services are integrated so children with health needs do not fall between the gaps. We have made strides to join up children's care in recent years, but we know we still have a long way to go." 

Coordination essential

Mike noted: "We have ample evidence from the past of what goes wrong when organisations are not coordinated to work together properly. If the range of new organisations taking on responsibilities for healthcare in the new system are not aligned, there is a real risk that we could fail children. 

"We must remember that improving the health outcomes of children is not something the NHS can do on its own. Producing long-term improvements in children's health will require a concerted drive from the sector and support from Government by producing a strategy which can be delivered across health, education and local government." 

NHS Confederation children’s safeguarding sounding board

The NHS Confederation hosts a children’s safeguarding sounding board made up of named and designated nurses and doctors. The sounding board meets quarterly and informs our work on children’s safeguarding. If you would like more information, or to join the group, please contact nicola.rosenberg@nhsconfed.org 

The NHS Confederation believes it is vital to address the health needs of children and young people, both in their own right, as future adults and as part of a family. For more information on our work in this area, visit our children's health web pages.

Contacts

Nicola Stevenson
020 7074 3227
Nicola.Stevenson@nhsconfed.org