For decades, new parents have been handed a ‘red book,’ or Personal Child Health Record to track their child’s growth, vaccinations, health checks and development milestones. Creating a digital alternative has long been a political commitment, but the complexity of organisations involved in the early life of a family has meant progress has been slow.

The opportunity of new technology has now been seized. Part of wider work to radically shift the NHS from analogue to digital and from sickness to prevention My Children (working title) in the NHS App will be both a secure health record, and an interactive, personalised service, providing timely, targeted advice and support and prompting parents and carers about appointments, vaccinations and more.

Emma and Mike will talk through the progress and challenges so far and outline their vision to help give children the best start in life - from simple tools for parents to monitor and share information to providing resources that respond to the needs of the child.