The Department of Health has today published ‘Healthy Child, Healthy Future – Health Review Statistics for Northern Ireland 2024/25’.
Healthy Child, Healthy Future is a framework for the universal Child Health Promotion Programme within Northern Ireland. It is recognised as being central to improving child health across a range of issues and giving every child and young person the best start in life.
The Healthy Child, Healthy Future programme aims to improve the life chances for children and young people to ensure that every child, irrespective of race, gender, religious belief, age, sexual orientation, disability, background or circumstances gets the best start in life and the support they need to fulfil their potential.
The annual publication details the coverage and timelines of preschool health contacts. It reports on the Healthy Child, Healthy Future framework which sets out a programme of child health contacts that every family in Northern Ireland can expect.
Key Facts and Figures:
- This publication includes coverage and timing of six pre-school health reviews; the New Baby Review (10-14 days after birth); 6-8 Week Review; 14-16 Week Review; 6-9 Month Contact; Health Review 1 Year; and the 2 – 2 ½ Year Health Review.
- During 2024/25, Health Visitors were expected to have completed 119,027 reviews of children across Northern Ireland for the above six pre-school health reviews.
- Some 103,878 of these (87%) were completed within the recommended time frame (contact on time).
- An additional 8% (9,956) were completed, but outside the recommended time frame (contact early or late).
- Some 4% of the reviews did not take place.
- The publication does not capture information on why reviews were completed outside of the recommended timeframe or had not taken place, however where issues are known these will be set out in the publication.
- The figures presented in this bulletin are derived from Child Health System extractions provided by the HSC Trusts.
Full document available at: https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/healthy-child-healthy-future-health
