The National Service Framework (NSF) for children, young people, and maternity services in England has recently been published by the Department of Health. On 15 October the equivalent Welsh consultation document was launched by the Minister for Health and Social Services at the Welsh Assembly Government, Mrs Jane Hutt; the consultation document of the Welsh NSF differs from the English NSF in a number of ways.

First, the Welsh document has set standards not just for health and social care but also for the other agencies which have a strong influence on the health and wellbeing of children, such as education, housing, leisure, and transport. The document has been endorsed in a foreword signed by the First Minister, Rhodri Morgan, and all members of the Cabinet of the Welsh Assembly Government.

A second difference from the English NSF is that the Welsh document is written with 21 standards and 203 “key actions”, each of which is specific, written …