Start Well

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Every child has a strong, healthy start to life; from maternal health, through the first thousand days, to reaching adulthood.

Our work will focus on:

Supporting families
  • Ensuring that all mothers, parents, children and young people have access to the support they need to achieve good family health and wellbeing
  • Improving educational achievement across the whole of our population to better prepare children and young people for employment
  • Supporting children, young people and their families who are most vulnerable and need support from a range of services

Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK) has more young people aged 0-14 in our population compared to the national average. Across BLMK 30 to 40% of children aged 10 to 11 years are overweight or obese and 11 to 19% of children live in low income households. We have a significant proportion of babies born at a very low birth rate, especially in Luton, and children who qualify for free school meals do less well in education across BLMK.

Ultimately children who grow up in the most deprived areas of BLMK have a shorter healthy life expectancy.

That’s why we’re working to support parents, carers and children to ensure that all young people have an opportunity to live longer, healthier lives.

Our priorities in this area focus on improving health outcomes in early years and making sure that children are ready to start school. We also want to support children throughout school, especially those with Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND). We will work to improve access to emotional wellbeing and mental health support to improve child and family resilience.

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Latest news and highlights

News

1 November 2024

Thousands receive winter vaccinations as NHS campaign gets off to a brisk…

More than 284,000 vaccinations have already been given in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes this winter amid an NHS drive to protect against the flu…

News

30 October 2024

Six priority work programmes unveiled to help local residents live longer, healthier…

Six priority work programmes for health and social care will help residents in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes to live longer, healthier lives, a new…

News

28 October 2024

NHS staff join series of talks to mark Black History Month

Around 50 NHS staff in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes have taken up the opportunity to learn more about the experiences of Black and Black British people through an October…

News

24 October 2024

Facial recognition technology improves pain management in local care homes

Innovative facial recognition technology is helping staff at residential and nursing homes in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes to provide better care to patients and reduce reliance on medication. Innovative…

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24 October 2024

Bedfordshire, Luton, and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board achieves Living Wage Employer…

Bedfordshire, Luton, and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board (BLMK ICB) has been officially accredited as a Living Wage Employer. This prestigious recognition underscores BLMK ICB’s commitment to ensuring that all…

News

23 October 2024

Dr Rima Makarem to stand down as Chair of Bedfordshire, Luton and…

The Chair of the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK) Integrated Care Board, Dr Rima Makarem, will stand down as Chair at the end of the year. Dr Makarem has…