Budget 2006: Infants to get more health checks

Infants will be given more health checks and at the age of 4 children will get a "school ready" assessment.

The Budget provides $23.6 million over four years for both schemes.

One involves increasing the number of "Well Child" checks for young children, provided mainly by Plunket nurses.

At present each child gets 6 1/2 "core" visits in its first four years - more for first-time parents or families in poorer areas - and this will rise to eight.

Health Minister Pete Hodgson said many details were yet to be worked out on the school-ready scheme to check 4-year-olds before they start school.

It would begin during the Government's current term but it was unclear whether primary health organisations, Plunket, other Well Child providers or a mix of them, would implement the scheme.

The extra health checks and other aspects of the Budget's child-health package would produce "significant gains for the health of young New Zealanders," Mr Hodgson said.

Plunket chief executive Paul Baigent welcomed the extra Well Child money and the concept of the school ready check.

"It's certainly good that the Government is continuing to invest in this area."

A school-ready check would ensure children could make the most of school, he said.

"It's a good opportunity to recheck hearing, sight and so on and then the school knows any issues that are associated with that that might affect learning and development."

The Budget also provides $16 million over four years to create a universal newborn hearing screening programme.