In our new health manifesto, Hope for the Future, which launched this week, we are urging government to appoint a cabinet-level secretary of state to be responsible for integrating all aspects of policy for children and young people. Why? Because children are our most precious resource, yet they have lost out immeasurably during the pandemic.
Who in government is responsible for the overall needs of children? The depressing answer? No one. Who has responsibility for developing joined-up policies to support children? Nobody. Is there any vision for childhood post-Covid? There isn’t.
Children and young people must be an investment priority to reduce inequality, so they can become productive adults and competent parents. We’re urging politicians, policymakers and all practitioners to take our proposals seriously.
Prof Sir Al Aynsley-Green
Lead for children, College of Medicine
