The Department of Health’s NHS Atlas of Variation in Healthcare for Children and Young People in England has released new figures, which for the first time show the extent of variations amongst some conditions. The figures reveal at least a seven-fold variation in children’s medical care, which is not solely due to socio-economic factors in local variations.

The key findings in the Atlas, which is based on 27 health indicators that include children’s immunization, diabetes treatment and emergency admission rates for epilepsy and asthma to track child medical care in all UK Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) shows:

  • a 7-fold variation in inpatient admission for children with mental health disorders

  • an almost 5-fold variation in child emergency admissions of asthmatic children of 17 years and younger

  • a 4-fold variation in the emergency admission rate for epileptic children

  • a 3 to 4-fold variation across the UK in attendance rates to Accident and Emergency departments in children 4 years and younger

  • a 3-fold variation in the number of children undergoing tonsillectomy

  • and more than a 2-fold variation in stillbirths and newborn mortality amongst all PCTs

Professor Terence Stephenson, President of the Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), declares:

“The extent of variation is a real concern and not explained solely by deprivation. We need to bring the worst up to match the best. The key now is to iron out inconsistencies, make sure guidelines are implemented across the board, use clinical networks and effectively share best practice – so that any unwarranted variation is minimized to make a significant difference to the health of children across England.

It’s welcome that the Department of Health has instigated this research, which gives healthcare commissioners, practitioners and Government a much clearer picture of the challenges we face as health professionals”.

The Atlas also demonstrates that higher spending on a service does not necessarily equal better quality results. For instance, there is no clear equation between greater spending and improved clinical outcomes amongst childhood diabetic service providers.

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Written by Petra Rattue