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Children's Health Crisis: Millions Face Long Waits
1 Jan
Summary
- Over half a million children in England face lengthy health service waits.
- Childhood vaccine uptake has declined significantly over the past decade.
- A pilot scheme targets families facing barriers to accessing healthcare.
A critical situation is unfolding in England, where over half a million children are enduring lengthy waits for essential health services. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health has labeled this a "national scandal," highlighting a perceived lack of focus on child health. This comes as uptake of childhood vaccines has steadily declined over the past decade, with no vaccines for children aged five and under meeting the crucial 95% coverage target.
A pilot scheme is being launched in twelve areas across London, the Midlands, the North East, Yorkshire, the North West, and the South West. This initiative will test a new approach to reach families who may not be registered with a GP or face significant barriers such as language, travel costs, or childcare issues. Meanwhile, the government is developing a workforce plan to address shortages in health visitors and community nursing.
In response to these concerns, the Conservative party has accused the Labour party of lacking a comprehensive plan for children's health. They contend that Labour is attempting to shift blame for current issues onto the previous government. The government has reiterated that all other families should continue to utilize their local GP surgeries for childhood vaccinations.
