The government has unveiled new initiatives to make child health a priority.

Twenty new test sites for the Family Nurse Partnership Programme have been earmarked and a new updated Child Health Promotion Programme (CHPP) has been announced by Health Minister Anne Keen and Children’s Minister Beverly Hughes.

They have said the announcements highlight the importance of child health for all children and families and have urged commissioners of services to make the new health programmes a priority.

The CHPP, building on the National Service framework of 2004, is intended to provide services tailored to the individual needs of children and families, acting as a best practice guide for health and social services.

It aims to reduce inequalities; promote the health and well being of children early in life; encourage partnership between different agencies such as GP practices and children’s centres; and focus services on changing public health priorities such as obesity, breastfeeding, social and emotional development.

Ms Keen said: “The Child Health Promotion Programme should be a universal service for all children and families and must be taken seriously. Commissioners need to recognise that this can be valuable tool for meeting their obligations on breastfeeding, obesity prevention, infant morality and the 12-week antenatal assessment.�

Ms Hughes also announced details of 20 new sites which will test the Family Nurse Partnership Scheme at the launch of the updated programme - a £30 million expansion of an initiative which forms a core part of the CHPP.

She said “Families don’t operate in silos, and so neither must services.�