Young people and health decision-making

The Office of the Children's Commissioner has published We Would Like to Make a Change: Children and young people's participation in strategic health decision-making, which states that health bodies needed to do more to involve children and young people in strategic decision-making.

Children and young people tended to be asked to comment on decisions that adults had already made, or consulted on their own health needs and service planning, rather than on the wider commissioning, delivery, or evaluation of services.

The report states that there is no coherent national programme of activity to encourage local bodies to include children and young people in strategic health service commissioning or other vital decision-making about National Health Service provision.

To download the report visit www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/force_download.php?fp=%2Fclient_assets%2Fcp%2Fpublication%2F655%2FFINAL_REPORT_We_would_like_to_make_a_change_Participation_in_health_decisions_March_2013.pdf.