Improving Young People's Health

Oral Answers to Questions — Health – in the House of Commons at 2:30 pm on 23 June 2009.

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Photo of Barry Sheerman Barry Sheerman Chair, Children, Schools and Families Committee, Chair, Children, Schools and Families Committee 2:30, 23 June 2009

What steps he is taking to encourage the NHS to co-operate with other public services to improve the health and well-being of children and young people.

Photo of Andy Burnham Andy Burnham The Secretary of State for Health

"Healthy lives, brighter futures", published in February 2009, sets out how we expect public services, including the NHS, to work together to improve the health and well-being of children and young people. This includes our action to strengthen arrangements for children's trusts.

Photo of Barry Sheerman Barry Sheerman Chair, Children, Schools and Families Committee, Chair, Children, Schools and Families Committee

Does my right hon. Friend agree that much of the evidence given to the Children, Schools and Families Select Committee regarding the vulnerability of young children points to the fact that health personnel are the weakest partner, that GPs often do not turn up at meetings unless they are paid, and that GPs do not do their job in the fullest, most co-operative way as part of the partnership?

Photo of Andy Burnham Andy Burnham The Secretary of State for Health

Obviously, we would take that evidence very seriously indeed. I am sure that my hon. Friend would agree that, across the country, there are some excellent examples of NHS organisations and individuals working closely with joint teams on the protection of children and children's health more generally, but I am sure that there is more that the NHS can do, at times, to be a better partner. I look forward to discussing that issue in more detail with him and his Committee.

Photo of Mike Penning Mike Penning Shadow Minister (Health)

Between 1 million and 3 million people in England and, obviously, thousands of children, do not get access to an NHS dentist. Would not one of the ways forward for improving child health be to reinstate inspections in schools, as our party has agreed to do, rather than ignoring the suggestion made in the review that came out yesterday?

Photo of Andy Burnham Andy Burnham The Secretary of State for Health

I certainly will not be ignoring the review that came out yesterday, which has laid out an important vision for NHS dentistry, but I agree with the hon. Gentleman that improving children's dental health is an important objective. I have always also favoured public health measures in this area, such as water fluoridation, and I am happy to reassert that today. However, I am also clear that we must work to make sure that every child can get access to an NHS dentist, and I would happily work with him on that objective.

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