Health Bill will weaken accountability for child protection, paediatricians warn

The government's proposed health reforms could weaken child protection arrangements, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) has warned.

In its response to the government’s listening exercise on the Health and Social Care Bill, the RCPCH said that the omission of responsibility for safeguarding from remit of Directors of Public Health failed to recognise the importance of integrated working between healthcare providers, local authorities, the police and other agencies.

The president of the RCPCH, Professor Terence Stephenson, said: “Directors of Public Health have in their new remit responsibility for domestic violence, linking police, education and social care services together. This remit does not mention child protection, yet there is overwhelming evidence of the link between family violence and child abuse and [their] responsibilities should be stronger.”

Under the government's plans, which are presently subject to a “pause” for further consultation, directors of public health are due to take responsibility for tackling domestic violence by linking police, education and social care services together.

The RCPCH also expressed concern over how the effect that increasing competition and choice in the NHS would have on at-risk children.

"Healthcare’s contribution to multi-agency child protection arrangements is crucial and a market-led system risks gaps in critical communications and responsibility for the most vulnerable children," it said.