Children's Play: Health Professions
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he will consider making health play specialists a mandatory registered allied health profession.
Answered by Karin Smyth
The Government is committed to raising the healthiest generation of children ever. This ambition is at the heart of our 10-Year Health Plan, which sets out three radical shifts: from treatment to prevention; from hospital to community; and from analogue to digital care. This involves ensuring that children receive appropriate care and support, whenever they need it.
In support of this commitment, the NHS England and Starlight Play Well Toolkit, published in June 2025, provides the first national guidelines and standards for commissioning and delivering health play services in England.
The Government has no current plans to extend statutory regulation to health play specialists, or to change the list of professional titles which are protected in law.
Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →