Young people to shape own services

Children and young people are to be involved
in drawing up a national strategy for child health care.

Public health minister Yvette Cooper announced
last week that the six external working groups set up to shape
policy on the Children’s National Service will include
representatives from children’s organisations and user groups.

The working groups, most of which have already
started meeting, will look at acute care, maternity, mental health
and psychological well-being, children in need, health, and
disability.

The group looking at disabilities, for
example, will link into a network of families with disabled
children through the voluntary organisation Contact a Family.

Cooper said: “Listening to children, young
people, pregnant women and families is essential to ensuring that
the children’s national services framework makes a real difference
in their lives. And the participation of young children, parents
and carers, underpins the development of the whole NSF.”

Communication with health care professionals
and consent to treatment will be among the issues that are
reflected in the NSF standards.