The coalition government's Health and Social Care Bill is unlikely to deliver the improvements in children's health services that are urgently needed. Useful lessons can be learnt from how other European countries deliver healthcare for children, say Ingrid Wolfe and colleaguesThe care provided by UK children's health services is inferior in many regards to that in comparable European countries. Although there are many examples of good practice, health services too often provide poor outcomes and are seemingly planned around the needs of organisations rather than those of children, young people, and families. Service models are often inefficient and wasteful. Budget constraints and dramatic changes in the NHS make it more important than ever that children's healthcare is planned carefully and appropriately for their needs (box 1). However, current plans insufficiently recognise children and young people's special requirements and fail adequately to acknowledge important recommendations made in Ian Kennedy's review of children's healthcare.1The Marmot review emphasises the importance of investment in children to reduce health inequalities at all ages.2 Health services in the UK need to adapt both to the changing nature of the challenges of

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