The National Clinical Programme for Paediatrics and Neonatology works to improve healthcare for children and young people.

It focuses on:

• infants and children up to 16 years old
• young people aged 16 to 18 who are not covered by standard paediatric services but have specific healthcare needs

Programme aims and objectives

The National Clinical Programme for Paediatrics and Neonatology aims to:

• advise on planning and funding children's health services
• support the design and delivery of equitable child and family centred care
• create models of care for paediatrics and neonatology
• standardise children’s healthcare by creating national clinical guidelines and algorithms
• create a forum to design sustainable, integrated children's health services
• support initiatives to reduce outpatient waiting lists
• make sure care is given by the right healthcare professional, at the right time and as close to home as possible