25.03.13
Children’s views ‘overlooked’ in NHS
The NHS needs to do more to involve the views of children and young people in its strategic decision-making, the Children’s Commissioner has urged.
New research on behalf of the commissioner and carried out by the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) shows that children and young people tend to be asked to comment on decisions that adults had already made, or on their own health needs and service planning rather than on wider commissioning, delivery or evaluation of services.
There is no coherent national programme to encourage local bodies to include children and young people in commissioning or decision making. Just 28% of local health plans reviewed referenced children and young people’s participation.
Maggie Atkinson, Children’s Commissioner for England, said: “Patient involvement in planning services is core to the Government’s health reforms but when it comes to including the public in decision-making, children’s views are all too often overlooked or disregarded. The Department of Health has promised to gather children’s views through its work to improve their health outcomes and its response to the Children and Young People’s Health Outcomes Forum, on which I sit.
“Our research shows that beyond HealthWatch, there is no coherent programme of work to ensure children are involved in strategic or commissioning decisions. We present these findings at a time of change. There is a real opportunity to embed, strengthen and promote the participation of children and young people in decision-making throughout the health system.”
Dr Hilary Emery, chief executive of the NCB, said: “One in four patients using the health service is aged under-18, yet this important stage in everyone’s life is often overlooked when developing and commissioning services. As new structures are put into place it is vital that all parts of the healthcare system actively promote the participation of children and young people in strategic decision-making. Children themselves have told us they want to have their say in ways that are appropriate for them.
“But this relies on providing them with opportunities that encourage their engagement, especially for those children who might not easily be heard, such as those with poor health outcomes and complex health needs. We need to get participation right if our young people are to enjoy the best possible health outcomes and we need to make sure we tell them how their participation can make a difference.”
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