Improving Maternal and Infant Nutrition: A Framework for Action

1.6 In 2003, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health published thereport of its most recent UK-wide review of child health screening and surveillanceactivity – the fourth edition of Health for All Children, commonly referred to as “Hall4”. Following this review, the Scottish Executive published guidance onimplementing Hall 4 in Scotland. The guidance recommends a targeted programmeof universal child surveillance and screening to enable professionals to concentratetheir efforts on activities for which there is good evidence of health benefit, includingincreased health promotion activity, and to achieve more effective support for thosechildren and families in most need. In April 2010, the Scottish Government issued aCEL, refreshing the key aspects of Hall 4 and highlighting areas which would befurther developed through consultation.1.7 An Action Plan for Improving Oral Health and Modernising NHS DentalServices in Scotland sets out a range of measures to improve oral health,particularly of children, prevent dental disease and improve access to dentalservices. The Action Plan recognises that the basis for good dental health beginsearly in life and that healthy eating plays a central role in oral health. The ActionPlan emphasises the importance of clear and consistent messages on healthy eatingfor the public and highlights the need for health professionals to continue to workwith nurseries, schools and communities to develop good dietary and oral healthhabits. More recently, NHS Boards have been set a health improvement target: atleast 60% of three and four year olds in each SIMD (Scottish Index of MultipleDeprivation) quintile to have fluoride varnishing twice a year by March 2014.1.8 Recipe for Success: Scotland’s National Food & Drink Policy sets out thevision to promote sustainable economic growth by ensuring that the ScottishGovernment's focus in relation to food and drink, and in particular our work withScotland's food and drink industry, addresses quality, health and wellbeing, andenvironmental sustainability, recognising the need for access and affordability at thesame time.1.9 Other pieces of policy and legislation of which the context of the frameworkare part are the Maternity Services Framework and the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland)Act 2005.1.10 The Framework for Maternity Services which was published in 2001 iscurrently being refreshed to more effectively reflect the current policy landscape as itrelates to maternity services in Scotland. A particular focus of the refreshmentactivity is on strengthening the contribution of maternity services to reducing healthinequalities and improving health. The framework is intended as an overarchingquality framework for the future development of maternity services in Scotland.1.11 The Breastfeeding etc (Scotland) Act 2005 makes it an offence to prevent orstop a person in charge of a child under the age of two years, who is otherwisepermitted to be in a public place, from feeding milk to that child. This legislation isthe first of its kind in the UK and Scotland is one of the only countries worldwide toenshrine such protection in legislation.