ABSTRACT
The British Medical Association in its hard-hitting analysis in 'Growing up in the UK' concluded that 'politicians have been failing children on a grand scale' by not giving them the priority they deserve in political ideology, policy and resources. Children, generally, are healthy and few die compared to 50 years ago. Science has transformed the treatment and prevention of diseases with immunisation diminishing the toll of infectious illnesses. International scrutiny supports the view that our poor performance in realising children's best interests is a result of the lack of political will to give children the focus they deserve. Infant mental health and wellbeing must be seen in the overall context of children and childhood in the UK today. The chapter argues that thinking, and designing services, around the needs of children and their families could deliver a vital paradigm shift, but delivering this change in attitude is a major challenge against the reality of competition for influence, power and money.
