Improving child health outcomes in Wales
20 Royal Colleges and professional bodies, including the FICM, have teamed up to improve child health outcomes in Wales.
The Welsh Royal Colleges Child Health Collaborative (WRCCHC) convened and chaired by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) has written to the First Minister of Wales to ask how his government will improve child health and support the workforce that cares for them.
The WRCCHC aims to ensure a sharper focus and understanding on the current and necessary support for the babies, children and young people and the workforce they represent. As a collaborative of Royal Colleges and professional bodies, the WRCCHC have expertise in pharmacy, nursing, public and oral health as well as professions in primary, secondary and community care.
Recently both the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and Academy of Medical Sciences published stark reports that highlight the wide-ranging evidence of declining health among children. Health professionals echo the stark warning in these reports as they see every day the impact of poor child health, the disproportionate impact of health inequalities on children and the consequence of this on people’s long-term health and wellbeing.
Major health issues like infant mortality, obesity and tooth decay are not only damaging the nation’s youngest and their future, but also the nation’s economic prosperity. The issues seen today will impact the health of future generations, our economic potential and will cost more to address in the future.
You can read the letter to the First Minister of Wales and WRCCHC’s calls to Government here. FICM are a signatory to the letter.
Capacity pressures experienced by adult intensive care units are compounded by poor health that commences in childhood. It is essential we address social inequalities that are linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes and other disease that increases adults' risk of critical illness.