BMJ  2004;329:693-694 (25 September), doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7468.693

Editorial

The national service framework for children

Is about making maternal and child health a priority, not a luxury

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

The national service framework for children, young people, and maternity services is the culmination of a process started three years ago and has been heavily influenced by the Kennedy and Laming reports.^1-3 That it responds to two of the most critical reports on child health service adds to its importance. It provides the NHS with measures to assess the quality of service provided for children and mothers.

Children have been invisible in the NHS. Until now they have been regarded as an addendum to adult services. In the NHS Plan children were largely ignored.⁴ Recent reforms have focused on adult services, with targets set by government to achieve them. One can argue that, as patients, pregnant women and children benefited from these reforms in terms of quantitative measures such as waiting times. However, the care of children requires a clearer vision in the more difficult qualitative areas. The national service . . . [Full text of this article]

North West London NHS Trust, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 3UJ (peter.lachman@nwlh.nhs.uk)

South Cambridgeshire Primary Care Trust, Ida Darwin, Fulbourn, Cambridge CB1 5EE (david.vickers@southcambridgeshire-pct.nhs.uk)

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    StumbleUpon    Technorati    What's this?

Relevant Articles

National service framework for children: Framework ignores children's growth

Tam Fry
BMJ 2004 329: 1239. [Extract] [Full Text]

National service framework for children: Framework shows a new vision of health, in life

Woody Caan
BMJ 2004 329: 1239. [Extract] [Full Text]

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Halfon, N., DuPlessis, H., Inkelas, M. (2007). Transforming The U.S. Child Health System. Health Aff (Millwood) 26: 315-330 [Abstract] [Full text]  
• Fry, T. (2004). National service framework for children: Framework ignores children's growth. BMJ 329: 1239-1239 [Full text]  
• Caan, W. (2004). National service framework for children: Framework shows a new vision of health, in life. BMJ 329: 1239-1239 [Full text]  

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

NSF/CHILDREN IGNORES THEIR GROWTH

Tam Fry
bmj.com, 24 Sep 2004 [Full text]

A new vision of health, in life

Woody Caan
bmj.com, 30 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Online poll

Find out more >>