Don't forget babies in plans to restructure Public Health England, warns charity

As part of the charity’s movement to support children’s first 1,001 days, it is urging the Government to think carefully about national oversight of, and support for public services, for babies and their families during the restructure.

As of yesterday (18 August), Public Health England (PHE), NHS Test and Trace, and the analytical capability of the Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC) were brought together under a single leadership team to become the National Institute for Health Protection (NIHP). The new organisation, which has a single command structure to advance the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, is now operational.

However, the Parent-Infant Foundation has warned that PHE plays a ‘vital role’ in protecting the nation’s health and well-being and reducing health equalities that goes ‘far beyond its role in tackling the pandemic’.

Public Health England (PHE) supports local authorities and the NHS to improve the physical and emotional well-being of babies, toddlers and their parents through the critically important 1001 days of life. This includes defining the Healthy Child Programme, overseeing delivery of the Family Nurse Partnership and providing guidance and support to health visitors and other important services for families. Prior to the pandemic, work had begun on an important update to the Healthy Child programme, which defines the support that all children in England should receive.

A statement from the Parent-Infant Foundation said that the Government must ‘avoid’ taking rapid action to change PHE’s role and structure without full consultation and understanding the consequences of this action, particularly at a time when local services are depleted and struggling with the effects of the pandemic.

The charity added, ‘It may be that there are opportunities, through reflection and revision of PHE’s role, to strengthen our national efforts to give babies the best start in life. But these opportunities will only be identified and realised through a thoughtful restructure, done in partnership with internal and external stakeholders, and with the best interests of babies and their family at heart.

‘Until this can happen, PHE must have Government’s full support to deliver its important role. Sufficient investment in the forthcoming Comprehensive Spending Review will be essential to enable PHE and local authorities and the NHS providers its supports, to work effectively for children and their families in the first 1001 days and beyond.’

A Department of Health and Social Care Spokesperson said, 'We are determined to provide children with the best possible start in life and are committed to improving early childhood experiences, ensuring that no child is left behind.

'As we form the new National Institute for Health Protection we will consult widely on how we embed health improvement more deeply across the board and we will say more on this over the coming weeks.'