The time for promises has passed. The time for action is now. This is the theme of Children’s Health Scotland’s new manifesto, “Every Child’s Right to Health”, which calls on all political parties, policymakers, and service leaders to put children’s health and rights at the heart of Scotland’s future.
Informed by the charity’s 2024–2030 Strategic Plan, impact data, and the voices of Health Rights Defenders—young people with lived experience—the manifesto sets out urgent priorities for action. The manifesto highlights stark realities:
- Over 42,000 children are waiting for neurodevelopmental assessments, with some areas seeing a 500% increase since 2020.
- 4,674 children and young people remain on CAMHS waiting lists.
- 240,000 children (24% of all children) are living in poverty.
- Tooth decay continues to be the leading cause of hospital admissions for children under general anaesthetic in Scotland.
Children’s Health Scotland is calling for a cross-party commitment to:
- Timely, equitable, and rights-based care
- Trauma-informed services that are sensitive to the intersection of poverty, trauma, and systemic barriers
- Robust data and workforce planning
- Meaningful participation of children, young people and those who love and care for them
- Long-term investment in third sector organisations to build capacity and sustainability
Helen Forrest, Chief Executive of Children’s Health Scotland, said:
When we truly get it right for every child—by listening to their voices and resisting the urge to speak for them—we empower them to take control of their health. Every child in Scotland deserves timely, equitable, and compassionate care — and their voices must shape the future of health services. The time for promises has passed. The time for action is now.
The manifesto urges that Article 24 of the UNCRC—the right of every child to the highest attainable standard of health—must be realised in every hospital, clinic, school, and community across Scotland.
Call to Action
We invite everyone who cares about children’s health and wellbeing to:
✅ Read the full manifesto at www.childrenshealthscotland.org
✅ Share this message on social media using #MyHealthMyRights and #HealthRightsAware
✅ Support our work by donating or signing up to our newsletter
