Nursery World - NHS for children to see major shake-up

The Government's decision to ensure that children and their healthcare needs are given a higher priority in the National Health Service (NHS) has been welcomed by children's healthcare charities. The announcement by the Government of a complete overhaul of children's services in the NHS and the appointment of a national director of children's healthcare services followed the publication last week of the Kennedy report of the Bristol Royal Infirmary inquiry. This highlighted how between 1991 and 1995 up to 35 more children under the age of one died after open-heart surgery in Bristol than in similar heart units elsewhere in England.

The announcement by the Government of a complete overhaul of children's services in the NHS and the appointment of a national director of children's healthcare services followed the publication last week of the Kennedy report of the Bristol Royal Infirmary inquiry. This highlighted how between 1991 and 1995 up to 35 more children under the age of one died after open-heart surgery in Bristol than in similar heart units elsewhere in England.

The report made 198 recommendations. It called for a national director for children's healthcare services, a greater integration of children's health services, standards - some of them mandatory - for the care of children, and for all healthcare staff who treat children to have training in caring for children.

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