DHSC: Mental Health Impact on Families with Critically Ill Children Report 2026

The Department of Health and Social Care is seeking to commission an external partner to produce an independent written report on the impact that a childhood diagnosis of critical illness has on families. This work supports the government’s wider commitment to expanding mental health and wellbeing provision under the 10 Year Health Plan, where identifying and supporting groups at risk is a key part of effective early intervention.

The report (Hugh’s Report) will generate a robust evidence base to inform policy decisions on how best to strengthen support for affected families. It will examine the mental health needs of parents, guardians and siblings, assess the availability and effectiveness of current support, and highlight where gaps or barriers exist so that future interventions can be better targeted.

Key Deliverables

Identify evidence on the mental health impact of a critical illness diagnosis of a child on their families.

Determine what forms of emotional and psychological support affected families need.

Assess whether the needs and barriers for families of critically ill children differ from other groups with mental health needs.

Examine the cost, accessibility and effectiveness of existing interventions supporting these families.

Provide recommendations for:

Further research areas, data sources or data collection needed.

Practical, actionable next steps based on what works.

Improvements to existing support.

This is not a call for competition, but an opportunity to gather feedback to better understand market capabilities, refine final specifications, decide the procurement strategy, and encourage supplier engagement.