Frontline services ‘should prioritise child health’

Government ministers have called for frontline services to make child health a priority, it has emerged.

Anne Keen, health minister, and Beverly Hughes, children’s minister, have called on commissioners to make a new health programme for children a priority.

The Child Health Promotion Programme aims to build on the national service framework published in 2004 and provide tailored services that meet the individual needs of families and children and act as a guide for best practice in this field.

It also aims to give a greater emphasis on health promotion during pregnancy and the early stages of life, while encouraging partnership working between different agencies on this issue.

Ms Keen said: “The Child Health Promotion Programme should be a universal service for all children and families and must be taken seriously.

“Commissioners need to recognise that this can be a valuable tool for meeting their obligations on breastfeeding, obesity prevention, infant mortality and the 12-week antenatal assessment.”

He added that a superior programme will result in an improvement in general health and wellbeing for children and families.

In December 2007, the Department of Health urged pregnant and breastfeeding women to boost their intake of vitamin D over the winter months.