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RCPCH responds to announcement for additional funding for elective appointments

The Chancellor and Health Secretary have confirmed funding plans to increase elective appointments ahead of the upcoming Budget.
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Funding to support the delivery of an extra two million NHS operations, scans and appointments a year to significantly cut waiting lists across England . 

RCPCH Vice President for Policy, Dr Mike McKean, said:

Additional funding for NHS appointments and treatments is a crucial step in reducing overall waiting times, but we would warn the Government not to make the mistake of leaving out children and young people. 

The Darzi Review highlighted the worsening state of children’s health and wellbeing, as well as the specific challenges faced by child health services and the workforce. This is a direct result of successive government's failing to properly address children’s health services in funding and policy planning within the NHS. 

The number of children waiting for over 52 weeks for care has increased by 60% for elective services, and 94% for community health services, in just two years. The College has been highlighting concerns about how long some children are left waiting for surgery, particularly for low volume but vital surgeries such as heart and spinal surgery. Any plans to expand surgical hubs are welcome, but we are clear that these must cover children and young people, as well as adult patients.

If our Government is serious about delivering on its ambition to raise the healthiest generation of children ever, it is vital the Health Secretary sets out clearly how today's announcement will be used to support child health services to deliver more appointments for children and young people.