Record levels of investment in services for disabled children
The Government have published its long term vision of a 21st Century children's health services aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of all children, including £340 million to support children with disabilities and their families.
Together with funding previously announced this brings the total investment inservices for disabled children over the next three years to a record £770 million.
The joint strategy Healthy lives, brighter future: the strategy for children and young people's health - published by Children's Secretary Ed Ball and Health Secretary Alan Johnson - sets out for the first time what children and their families can expect from child health services in their areas from birth through to the age of 19.
ALongside this additional money for children with disabilities and their families, parents will also see new packages of support for all children and young peoplem including:
- Stronger and better joined up support during the crucial early years of life including more health visitors;
- A strengthened role for Sure Stard Children's Centres with, for the first time, each Children's Centre having access to a named health visitor;
- Expansion of the Family Nurse Partnerships programme to support first time mothers from 30 to 70 sites by 2011, with a view to rolling it out across England over the next decade;
- The development and testing of a new antenatal programme and preparation for parenthood package for mothers and fathers; and
- Free School Meal pilots looking at the health and edicational benefits of universal access.
This £340 million funding will enable local areas to work together to support children with disabilities and their families and invest in palliative care and end of life services, short breaks, community equipment and wheelchair services through Community Children's Nursing services.
Alan Johnson, Secretary of State for Health said: "The Child Health Strategy will help to ensure that healthcare and children's services work together to help every child to have a healthy and happy start to life.
This funding of £340 million will help to improve the experience of disabled children and their families by providing them with high quality services whilst the expansion of the Family Nurse Partnership programme will help us to reach the most disadvantaged families.
Our aim is to provide mothers and fathers with the support that they need to give their children a healthy start in life and to help young people to make healthy choices. Investing in children's health from the early years through childhood and adolescence will benefit children, families , society and the NHS."
Dr Simon Lenton, Vice President of Health Services, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) said: "The great thing about the strategy is that it comes with a significant amount of new money targeted around an area of genuine need. We would like to see some of this being spent on children with long-term conditions and complex needs, such as cerebral palsy.
We will be delighted to play our part in making this strategy a reality. Paediatricians in the UK are at the forefront of working with children and young people with disabilities. We have always advocated working across boundaries for the good of children and we welcome the emphasis on a joined up approach."
If you would like to read The Child Health Strategy, you can download it here: Healthy lives, brighter future: the strategy for children and young people's health.
20.02.09
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