The Children’s Commissioner has expressed strong support for a motion urging immediate measures to ensure that every child receives a comprehensive health review at one year of age.
Chris Quinn, said: “NICCY strongly supports urgent action to ensure that every child receives their one-year health review as outlined in the Healthy Child, Healthy Future policy framework. The statistics indicate that 15% of children across Northern Ireland—and a staggering 46% in the Southern Trust—did not receive this vital check during the 2023-24 period.
“The fact that 6% of these reviews were completely unconducted raises serious concerns related to early intervention, with potentially dire long-term implications for children, families, and health services.
“Health visitors are essential for detecting developmental delays and health concerns early on, ensuring timely referrals to specialised services and Allied Health Professionals. These one-year reviews are critical in facilitating appropriate assessments and enabling children to receive necessary support during their formative years. The absence of these checks poses a significant risk of leaving developmental issues, such as speech and motor difficulties, undiagnosed — issues that, if not addressed early, may exacerbate over time and contribute to the current crisis in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision.
“The Department of Health’s commitment under the Healthy Child, Healthy Future framework emphasises that every child deserves the best start in life, primarily through the proactive engagement of health visitors. With the framework’s refresh anticipated by spring 2025, the Department must reaffirm its dedication to ensuring every child receives their one-year review.
“We already face long wait times for assessment and support within the SEND system, which is already overwhelmed. Delaying investment in early identification only exacerbates the situation, placing additional pressure on education, health, and social care services. Resources must be directed toward prenatal care and early childhood interventions so every child gets the right support at the right time.
“This issue transcends mere policy; it fundamentally pertains to children’s rights. According to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), every child has the right to optimal health (Article 24) and early support for disabilities or additional needs (Article 23). The government carries both a legal and moral obligation to uphold these rights, ensuring that no child is left behind due to service provision failures.
“In light of the significant workforce challenges faced by Health Visiting services, NICCY emphasises the urgent need for action. We call on the Minister of Health to take decisive steps in collaboration with Health and Social Care Trusts to guarantee full and timely delivery of one-year-old health reviews. By investing in early intervention, we can reshape the trajectory of the current SEND crisis because every child deserves the best start in life.”
