Child Health in New Zealand

Well Child Newsletter No 1, September 2006

A review of the Well Child Tamariki Ora Framework is under way. This newsletter provides information about the review.

Background

In the budget for 2006 the Government announced additional funding of $5.9 million per annum to ensure every child receives their entitlement of Well Child contacts, and to introduce a new Well Child check for children starting school (see the story under New Initiatives).

This led to the Ministry of Health beginning a review of the Well Child Tamariki Ora Framework, to see which parts of the schedule are working well and which parts would benefit from having some changes.

The Well Child Review

The review’s objectives and vision are to:

• evaluate the quality and effectiveness of the current service
• consider future directions
• improve links to related services.

‘We want our children… to grow up competent and confident, healthy in mind, body, and spirit, secure in their sense of belonging and in the knowledge that they make a valued contribution to society.’ Te Whariki, Ministry of Education

The review will be looking at how efficient the current Well Child service is, how we can reduce disparities and improve child health outcomes, and which models of
delivery work best.

Current and emerging issues, such as infant and child mental health, obesity and injury prevention, will be
addressed in the review.

It is important that the review recognises what is being done well and is realistic about what can be achieved.

The review is divided into 5 phases.

• Phase 1. Planning and preparation. As part of this a survey was sent to District Health Boards to find out how the Well Child Schedule is being implemented. A literature review of relevant issues and initiatives was also commissioned.
• Phase 2. Setting up a steering group and reference group and consulting with representatives from the Ministries of Education and Social Development, Plunket, District Health Boards, Māori and Pacific providers and other interested groups.
• Phases 3 and 4. Developing a discussion paper which will then be used for formal consultation.
• Phase 5. Agreement to the recommendations and planning for implementation. Phase 5 will be completed by December 2007.

New Initiatives

Transition to School check

The Transition to School check is a new initiative, and will be more than just a health check.

As well as assessing vision and hearing, immunisation status, and chronic illness, we also want the Transition to School check to look at a child’s development. This
will include behaviour and mental health, how the child learns and communicates, and the society and environment that the child is growing up in.

We are looking at different options of where the check should take place, what it should include and who should do it.

We want to make sure familes and whānau are linked into all the services available to them, and get the support they need. The Ministries of Education and Social Development, have been consulted and will continue to be involved.

Information database

A Well Child database is being considered as part of the review. This would be used for collecting population data, recording Well Child visits, generating reminders
for follow up and so on. There will be more information in future newsletters.

Newborn Hearing Assessment

It is planned that the review will link with the development of a National Newborn Hearing Screening programme. There will be more on this in the next newsletter.

We are planning to provide regular updates on the progress of the review and would like your feedback, comments and questions.

You can also email the Well Child Team on Well_Child@moh.govt.nz