Barnardo's has warned that children's health is being shaped by poverty as it launches a new programme in Birmingham and Smethwick to tackle the root causes of poor health. The charity highlighted that over 21,000 children aged five to nine were admitted to hospital last year for removal of decayed teeth, and one in five children are living with obesity by the end of primary school. Without action, poor childhood health could contribute to £1 trillion in lost lifetime earnings, the charity said.
Programme Places Wellbeing Workers in GP Surgeries
The Barnardo's programme, called Family Focus, places Wellbeing Workers in five medical centres across Birmingham and Smethwick. GPs can refer patients to a Wellbeing Worker who can provide support for issues such as domestic violence, housing problems, or special educational needs. The goal is to address the underlying social causes of poor health, helping children and families while reducing pressure on medical services.
Social Issues Drive Health Problems
Barnardo's report states that medical findings often stem from social issues like poverty, insecure housing, food insecurity, and chronic stress. These conditions make poor health more likely and harder to avoid. One young person involved with the charity noted, 'The biggest problem is that this [points to image of hospital] isn't connected to this [points to image of school]. Nothing is connected. No one knows what is available.'
Wellbeing Worker Shares Success Story
Aimee McGuinnes, a Wellbeing Worker with Barnardo's, said: 'Family Focus provides wellbeing and practical support for children, young people and families who need someone to help them navigate difficult situations before they reach crisis.' She described a case where a parent visited a GP with respiratory problems but was living in a home with mould that the landlord refused to fix. The GP treated the medical issue but also recognised the underlying cause and referred them to Family Focus, which then supported the family with housing issues affecting their health.
Chief Executive Calls for Connected Services
Lynn Perry, Barnardo's chief executive, said: 'For far too long our children and young people have been let down by our health system. Through our Barnardo's services, we know that children's health is inseparable from their families, schools and communities. If services do not respond to the context children and young people are growing up in, approaches to prevent and tackle poor health cannot be successful – leaving an entire generation at risk.' She added that the Family Focus programme in the West Midlands is a great example of what can be achieved when services work alongside families and listen to their needs. By supporting families with challenges from housing to mental health, the programme improves health outcomes and helps create stronger communities.
Programme Aims to Reduce Pressure on NHS
The initiative is designed to reduce pressure on health services by addressing problems before they escalate. Wellbeing Workers help families navigate issues that, if left unaddressed, often lead to emergency hospital admissions or repeated GP visits. Barnardo's hopes that the Birmingham and Smethwick rollout will serve as a model for other areas in England.
