- New Atlas of
Variation for Children’s Services shines a light on differences in
care - The differences in health services for children across the
country have been laid bare for the first time today.
The NHS Atlas of Variation in Healthcare for Children and Young
People maps out the variation in healthcare for 27 different child
health issues across England.
The Atlas shows:
Breastfeeding: There is a three-fold variation in breastfeeding
rates for babies aged 6-8 weeks across the country.Asthma:
Variation in the treatment of child asthma has increased. In
2008/09, there was a four-fold variation in the rate of children
admitted for emergency hospital treatment – by 2009/10, that had
risen to a five-fold variation.Epilepsy: There is a four-fold
variation in the emergency admission rate for children with
epilepsy.A&E: There is a 3.5-fold variation in A&E
attendance for children aged 0-4.Diabetes: There is a 2.6-fold
variation in the percentage of children with diabetes admitted to
hospital for diabetic ketoacidosis – a serious emergency condition
that can lead to coma or even death if Type 1 diabetes is not
properly managed.Tonsillectomies: There is almost a three-fold
variation in the rate of elective tonsillectomies in children aged
0-17.
Although variation in services can be a sign of services being
tailored to the needs to local patients, unwarranted variation -
which cannot be explained by variation in patient illness or
preferences - is not acceptable. The Atlas of Variation will help
hospitals, community services, Primary Care Trusts and emerging
Clinical Commissioning Groups to see how their area compares to
others around the country, analyse the reasons why and if
necessary put plans in place to make improvements.
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said:
“We have published these maps to shine a light on unjustified
variation in the most essential services for children and young
people across the country.
“The challenge for the NHS is for every service to get to the
level of the best. Local hospitals, services and commissioners
will only know where they need to take action to improve services
for their patients if they can see how other parts of the country
are performing.
“That is also why we are bringing together people from across the
NHS, social care and wider children’s services to develop a
Children’s and Young People’s Outcomes Strategy – a clear set of
goals to give all children the right start in life.”
Dr Sheila Shribman, the National Clinical Director for Children,
Young People and Maternity Services, said:
"Tackling unwarranted variation can help the NHS to
provide better care, reduce waste and make sure that all children
and young people get the best possible results from their care.
“The Atlas sets out the platform from which local child health
commissioners and clinicians should be inspired to evaluate and
most of all improve the quality of their care and results for patients.”
Notes to Editors
The NHS Atlas of Variation in Healthcare for Children and Young
People has been produced by the QIPP Right Care programme. Copies
of the report and an interactive version can be found at:
http://www.rightcare.nhs.uk/atlas
For media enquiries only, please contact the Department of
Health Newsdesk on 020 7210 5221.
Contacts:
Department of Health
Phone: 020 7210 5221
NDS.DH@coi.gsi.gov.uk