Experts are lamenting the ‘appalling decline’ in the health of children under five in Britain
Children are being “betrayed” by Britain’s failure to give them a healthy start in life, academics say.
Experts said there was a ‘terrible decline’ in the health of children under five in Britain – with rising rates of obesity and tooth decay.
A report from the Academy of Medical Sciences claims that progress in child health has stalled in recent years.
Key concerns outlined in the report include:
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health said the document “provides alarming evidence that Britain is failing too many of its children”.
Professor Helen Minnis, from the University of Glasgow and co-chair of the report, said: “Infant mortality is rising, infant survival rates lag behind comparable countries, and preventable physical and mental health problems plague our youngest citizens.
“The science is clear: we are betraying our children. Unless the health of babies and young children is urgently prioritized, we will condemn many to a life of poorer health and lost potential. Now is the time to take action.”
Co-chair Pro Sir Andrew Pollard, from the University of Oxford, said: “There are huge challenges facing the NHS today, driven by increasing pressure on health and social care due to an aging population.
“Even more disturbing is the evidence cited in our Academy of Medical Sciences report of a terrible decline in the health of our children, creating an even bleaker outlook for their future.
“There is clear evidence in the report that tackling childhood health problems, tackling inequalities and providing social support for young children can transform the future of health and prosperity.”
Commenting on the report, Dr. Mike McKean, vice-president for health policy at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said: “This report provides alarming evidence that Britain is failing too many of its children.
“We are presiding over a crisis in children’s healthcare that requires urgent action. As pediatricians, we witness the devastating consequences of these system errors every day.
“Without transformative interventions in children’s health, we are condemning generations to a poorer future.”
Claire O’Meara, from the UK Committee for Unicef, said: “The government must act now on this evidence to reverse the already worrying decline in children’s health outcomes.”
A government spokesperson said: “We have taken significant action to improve children’s health, both now and in the long term. This includes dramatically reducing sugar in children’s food, investing more than £600 million to improve the quality of sport for children, and encouraging healthy eating for families from lower income households through programs such as Healthy Start.
“We are also investing an additional £2.3 billion a year in mental health care, the number of children seen by NHS dentists increased by 14% last year, and we are taking steps to reduce vaping among young people and create the very first smoke-free generation to introduce .
“Reducing waiting lists is one of the government’s five top priorities. “Despite the continued pressure on the NHS, we have reduced the overall waiting list and the number of individual patients waiting for treatment compared to the previous month.”