Stronger duties needed in new bill to integrate care for seriously ill children

Together for Short Lives has called on ministers to strengthen a new draft law that seeks to better integrate health and care in England by extending the benefits to children and young people.

The Health and Care Bill, laid before parliament on Tuesday (6 July), proposes to replace NHS clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) with integrated care systems (ICS).

We welcome the provisions in the bill to bring health and care commissioners together to join services up. However, we are concerned that the bill may only extend the full benefits of integration to adults. Neither the bill nor its explanatory notes set out how the new law will apply to children’s services or the workforce that supports them. We are also concerned that infants, children, young people, parents and carers have not been involved in developing the government’s proposals.

Andy Fletcher, Chief Executive of Together for Short Lives, said:

“Seriously ill children and their families need palliative care delivered by a range of professionals and organisations across education, health, care and other agencies. The Health and Care Bill provides an important opportunity to break down barriers to joined up care, to reduce health inequalities – and to encourage commissioners and providers to come together to plan and fund lifeline care and support around those who need it.”

“However, ministers will not make the most of these opportunities unless they make key improvements, such as making sure that there are specific children’s leads within ICSs, ensuring data sharing between agencies and including provisions to involve young people and parents within ICSs. I call on MPs and peers to work with the government to make these key changes as the bill progresses through parliament.”