Child health worse in deprived UK families, report finds

A report conducted by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) has raised concern over the health of children in deprived UK homes.

The report, State of Child Health 2017, looked at 25 health indicators, including asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, obesity, breastfeeding and mortality, to provide a snapshot of children's health and wellbeing.

The report maintained that while there has been a huge improvement in child health in the UK over the past century, there has been a slowing of progress from the 1990s onwards resulting in the UK falling behind other European nations the league tables.

The data showed that in 2014, the UK had a higher infant mortality rate of 3.9 per 1,000 live births than the majority of its Western European counterparts.

Northern Ireland had the highest infant mortality rate in the UK, at 4.8 per 1,000 live births.

The report indicated that rates of smoking during pregnancy are higher in the UK than in many European countries, with 11.4 per cent of women smoking during their pregnancy and the incidence highest among mothers under 20 living in deprived areas.

The report put forward a number of recommendations aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of the UK’s children. It suggested: each government developing an evidence-based child health and wellbeing strategy; ensuring universal early years' public health services, such as health visitors and school nurses, are prioritised and supported; promoting good nutrition and exercise before, during and after pregnancy; ensuring children who are overweight or obese can access services to help them lose weight; introducing statutory and comprehensive personal, social and health education in all schools; and training all child health professionals so they can deal with children and young people with mental health problems.

Professor Neena Modi, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, commented: “We know the adverse economic impact of poor child health on a nation and yet we singularly seem to be incapable of doing anything substantive about it."

“Their policies are much more child friendly and child focused. We have a tokenistic recognition of the importance of child health in all policies in this country, but we don't have that translated into real action."

“As citizens we can say very loudly and clearly we do want a focus on child health and well-being... we can bring in child health in all national policies and make sure our government does have a strategy that crosses all departments."

A spokesman from the Department of Health commented: “There is more to do, but we have shown that we are willing to take tough action to protect public health and especially that of children - by banning smoking in cars if children are present, introducing a soft drinks industry levy and publishing a comprehensive childhood obesity strategy.”