Barnardo’s is calling on the government to introduce a Child Health Action Plan. In a new report, the charity warns that too many children's futures are being damaged because the health system is responding to problems late, rather than preventing them.
The charity's report, Building the Healthiest Ever Generation: A Child-Centred Vision for Neighbourhood Health, highlights how children's health is shaped long before they reach a GP surgery or hospital. They cite that:
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One in five children and young people aged 8–25 in England now has a probable mental health condition.
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More than one in five children are living with obesity by the end of primary school.
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Over 21,000 children aged five to nine were admitted to hospital last year to have decayed teeth removed, despite being almost entirely preventable.
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Without action, poor childhood health could contribute to £1 trillion in lost lifetime earnings for this generation.
The report warns that these medical trends are often deeply rooted in social issues such as poverty, insecure housing, food insecurity and chronic stress, as they create conditions in which poor health becomes more likely and harder to avoid.
While the government's 10-Year Health Plan sets out ambitions for neighbourhood health, children and young people told Barnardo's they fear these ambitions will not improve outcomes for them. One young person said:
"The biggest problem is that this [points to image of hospital] isn't connected to this [points to image of school]. Nothing is connected. No one knows what is available."
The report identifies three priorities for neighbourhood health:
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creating truly integrated local services;
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designing services around children and young people's needs and voices;
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making prevention and tackling health inequalities the measure of success.
Barnardo's “Family Focus” programme shows what these principles and effective neighbourhood health can look like in action. In partnership with Modality Partnership, the charity is working in five medical centres across Birmingham and Smethwick to provide Wellbeing Workers in GP practices.
GPs can signpost and refer patients directly to in-house Wellbeing Workers - who can provide support with a variety of issues, ranging from domestic violence, to housing, or special educational needs. By providing practical, emotional and non-clinical support, these workers address the root causes of ill health beyond the scope of GP consultations, helping improve outcomes for children and families while reducing pressure on health services.
One family was referred after fleeing domestic abuse and being placed in temporary accommodation an hour from their children's school. Working alongside the GP, a Barnardo's Wellbeing Worker helped the parent secure more suitable housing, access financial support, connect with local services and rebuild community links. Within a month, the family had moved closer to their children's school and support network, with the parent reporting greater confidence and improved wellbeing.
Aimee McGuinnes, Wellbeing Worker, said: "Family Focus provides wellbeing and practical support for children, young people and families who need someone to help them navigate difficult situations before they reach crisis.
"One parent visited their GP with respiratory problems but mentioned they were living in a home with mould that their landlord refused to fix. The GP treated the medical issue but also recognised the underlying cause and referred them to us. We were then able to support the family with the housing issues that were affecting their health."
Lynn Perry, Barnardo’s chief executive, said:
“For far too long our children and young people have been let down by our health system. Through our Barnardo's services, we know that children’s health is inseparable from their families, schools and communities. If services do not respond to the context children and young people are growing up in, approaches to prevent and tackle poor health cannot be successful – leaving an entire generation at risk.
“That’s why we Barnardo’s is calling for a Child Health Action Plan that defines ‘healthiest ever generation’, establishes an outcomes framework and aligns national, regional and neighbourhood delivery – so we can create a health care system that allows every child to feel safer, happier, healthier, and more hopeful.”