Young care leavers in England to get free prescriptions, dental and eye services | Social care
Young people leaving care in England will receive free prescriptions and dental and vision services until their 25th birthday, the government has said.
A pilot scheme to trial paid internships for care leavers in the NHS and a guaranteed interview scheme for NHS roles also form part of the package of measures announced by the Department for Health and Social Care.
The DHSC said a separate three-year pilot aims to improve access to mental health support for children in care.
The DHSC said there were approximately 53,230 care leavers aged 17 to 21 and 44,430 care leavers aged 22 to 25 in 2025, but this may be an underestimate.
Health and Social Services Minister Wes Streeting said: “Those in care are facing the toughest start of their lives and as a result are exposed to a barrage of health inequalities, hindering their chances of living happy, successful and fulfilling lives.”
Ministers will also introduce safeguards to alert GPs if young patients are being taken into care, and a new regulation will allow information to be shared quickly between healthcare services.
The government accepted the advice of Josh MacAlister, the first children’s social care consultant and a former teacher and founder of the charity Frontline, a postgraduate social worker training programme.
Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing MacAlister said: “The disadvantage faced by children growing up in care is a major social injustice. That’s why we’re taking cross-government action to transform the life chances of these children and care leavers.
“This package of health measures will make a tangible difference in reducing health inequalities, keeping more children safe and providing intensive support to more families.
“It also provides recommendations from the independent review into children’s social care. It was published In 2022. “This government is delivering meaningful change to remove barriers to opportunity, especially for those in care.”
DHSC said the guaranteed consultation scheme was similar to existing NHS policies which guarantee interviews for disabled people and aim to ensure a level playing field for people from care backgrounds.
The job application system will provide an option for candidates to declare whether they have left care. If they meet the minimum criteria in the job description, they will be invited to interview along with other shortlisted candidates.
Research cited by the DHSC said that between 1971 and 2001, adults who were in care as a child were 70% more likely to die prematurely, and care leavers were more likely to die an unnatural death.
The upcoming child welfare and schools bill will include in law a requirement for government and public bodies to consider the challenges faced by children in care and care leavers and the support they may need when leaving the care system.
Local authorities will need to publish regulations to support care leavers as they transition into adulthood, as well as helping them find suitable accommodation and access other support. Staying Close attempt.
