The future of child health services: new models of care

This report highlights what the problems are in current health care services for children and young people, and investigates how emerging new models of care could provide an opportunity to address these.

'The future of child health services: new models of care' sets out examples of emerging new ways of delivering care for children and young people.

The report describes the current state of child health and quality of care in the UK, including problems around increasing use of hospitals to treat conditions that could be dealt with in other settings; capacity issues in primary care; and the often disjointed care provided between hospitals and the community. It then looks some examples of new models of care – which have been emerging both within the Vanguard scheme and inspired by it – and how they are responding to these issues. 

Although much has improved over the past few decades, many problems around the health of children and young people and quality of care they receive remain unaddressed - children and young people should receive at least as much attention as adults. These new models offer innovative ways of understanding and managing the needs of children, young people and their families, and may be the way to improve quality of care and outcomes.

Lucia Kossarova, Senior Research Analyst, Nuffield Trust, and report author

An ‘ideal’ child health system is then described: one that understands children, young people and their families’ specific needs; where there is access to high-quality paediatric expertise; and where there is linked-up, timely information, communication, data and care. 

The report is based on a workshop run by the Nuffield Trust, as well as on presentations, discussions, case study materials submitted by representatives of the new models who attended the workshop, and published literature. It is the first report in our new series ‘The future of…’, which is looking at the future of service delivery in various specialisms within the health service.

Suggested citation

Kossarova L, Devakumar D and Edwards N (2016) The future of child health services: new models of care. Nuffield Trust.

Appears in

  • 21/12/2016
  • Nuffield Trust