Integrated care for children and young people in England represents a transformative shift towards holistic, person-centred health services tailored to the needs of local communities. In this first part of a series of three, we describe what we mean by integrated care, and why it is needed now, setting the context for the subsequent parts that detail integrated care's core components and practical implementation.Integrated care addresses multidimensional needs-physical health, mental wellbeing, education and social development-while reducing fragmentation and inefficiency. This approach enables early intervention and improves health equity. Key benefits include streamlined access for families, reduced hospital admissions and better outcomes for vulnerable groups, such as children with complex conditions or those facing social and economic challenges.The evolution of UK child health policy, from the 1959 Platt Report to the 2025 National Health Service 10-Year Health Plan for England, underscores the growing emphasis on multidisciplinary, community-based models. By adopting a whole-population approach-segmenting children by health and social needs rather than rigid pathways-integrated care enables every child to be supported and cared for.Ultimately, integrated care is not just an improvement but a necessity, addressing rising demand, workforce pressures and persistent inequities. It fosters proactive, collaborative systems that prioritise children's wellbeing, offering a sustainable future for child health and care services in England.
Holden et al. (Wed,) studied this question.