Reaching all children

doi:10.1136/bmj.323.7306.176

BMJ 2001;323:176-177 ( 28 July )

Editorials

Reaching all children

Providing services for mobile and marginalised children is challenging

Primary care p 210

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

In Britain the many initiatives to improve the wellbeing of children are operating against the backdrop of a government commitmentto reduce health inequalities and improve access to services.Yet ensuring the right of all children to have equal access toservices remainschallenging.

In this week's issue Webb et al highlight the unmet health and developmental needs of children living with their mothers ina refuge for victims of domestic violence (p 210).¹ Not onlyare these children likely to have special needs associated withliving in violent households²; they also have poor access toservices, including "universal" services such as immunisationand health promotion. All children from marginalised populationsface this double jeopardy. For many, such as travellers, homelessfamilies, children living rough, and asylum seeking and refugeechildren,³ this is because of poor access to both mainstreamand specialist services.⁴ For others, ironically, it is . . . [Full text of this article]