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| Child health in UK 'lagging behind' among deprived families | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Child health in the UK is lagging behind that of most other European countries, a major report has said. | Child health in the UK is lagging behind that of most other European countries, a major report has said. |
| It raises particular concerns over rates of obesity, mental health issues and mortality among the young. | It raises particular concerns over rates of obesity, mental health issues and mortality among the young. |
| The in-depth report, from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, urges the four governments of the UK to reduce the growing health gap between rich and poor children. | The in-depth report, from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, urges the four governments of the UK to reduce the growing health gap between rich and poor children. |
| Health ministers said they welcomed the report and its message on child health. | Health ministers said they welcomed the report and its message on child health. |
| The report looked at 25 health indicators, including asthma, diabetes and epilepsy, as well as obesity, breastfeeding and mortality, to provide a snapshot of children's health and wellbeing. | The report looked at 25 health indicators, including asthma, diabetes and epilepsy, as well as obesity, breastfeeding and mortality, to provide a snapshot of children's health and wellbeing. |
| It says there had been huge improvements in child health in the UK in the past 100 years, but since the mid-1990s "there has been a slowing of progress". | It says there had been huge improvements in child health in the UK in the past 100 years, but since the mid-1990s "there has been a slowing of progress". |
| This has left the UK falling behind other European nations in a number of league tables. | This has left the UK falling behind other European nations in a number of league tables. |
| For example, in 2014 the UK had a higher infant mortality rate (of 3.9 per 1,000 live births) than nearly all comparable Western European countries. | For example, in 2014 the UK had a higher infant mortality rate (of 3.9 per 1,000 live births) than nearly all comparable Western European countries. |
| Infant mortality ranges from 3.6 in Scotland to 3.9 in England and Wales, and 4.8 in Northern Ireland. | Infant mortality ranges from 3.6 in Scotland to 3.9 in England and Wales, and 4.8 in Northern Ireland. |
| Rates of smoking during pregnancy - an important factor in the health of babies - are higher in the UK than in many European countries, at 11.4% in England and nearly 15% in Scotland. | Rates of smoking during pregnancy - an important factor in the health of babies - are higher in the UK than in many European countries, at 11.4% in England and nearly 15% in Scotland. |
| Smoking during pregnancy was highest in deprived populations and in mothers under 20, the report found. | |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| By Hugh Pym, BBC health editor | By Hugh Pym, BBC health editor |
| In 2010 a ground-breaking report for the government in England by Sir Michael Marmot set out the social factors governing health and pointed to the role of a child's early years in determining life chances. | In 2010 a ground-breaking report for the government in England by Sir Michael Marmot set out the social factors governing health and pointed to the role of a child's early years in determining life chances. |
| Now, leading child health experts are saying that little progress has been made since then and that health inequality is still blighting the lives of young people. | Now, leading child health experts are saying that little progress has been made since then and that health inequality is still blighting the lives of young people. |
| The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health is arguing that what it calls the wide gap between rich and poor is damaging infant health around the UK. | The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health is arguing that what it calls the wide gap between rich and poor is damaging infant health around the UK. |
| The college president, Professor Neena Modi, argues that a lot more needs to be done to improve child health and that it is "particularly troubling" that "stark inequalities" have widened in the last few years. | The college president, Professor Neena Modi, argues that a lot more needs to be done to improve child health and that it is "particularly troubling" that "stark inequalities" have widened in the last few years. |
| Read more | Read more |
| Diabetes on the rise | Diabetes on the rise |
| According to the report, there was also evidence that young people in the UK had low wellbeing compared with other comparable countries. | According to the report, there was also evidence that young people in the UK had low wellbeing compared with other comparable countries. |
| And data shows that type-1 diabetes is an increasingly common condition among children and young people in the UK, making it the sixth top country in the world for new cases diagnosed each year. | And data shows that type-1 diabetes is an increasingly common condition among children and young people in the UK, making it the sixth top country in the world for new cases diagnosed each year. |
| The report lays out a number of key recommendations for improving the health and wellbeing of the nation's children. | The report lays out a number of key recommendations for improving the health and wellbeing of the nation's children. |
| These include: | These include: |
| The State of Child Health report emphasised that poverty was at the root of many child health problems, leaving children from deprived backgrounds with far worse health and wellbeing than children growing up in affluent families. | The State of Child Health report emphasised that poverty was at the root of many child health problems, leaving children from deprived backgrounds with far worse health and wellbeing than children growing up in affluent families. |
| In 2015-16, 40% of children in England's most deprived areas were overweight or obese, compared with 27% in the most affluent areas. | In 2015-16, 40% of children in England's most deprived areas were overweight or obese, compared with 27% in the most affluent areas. |
| One in five children in the UK is living in poverty, the report says. | One in five children in the UK is living in poverty, the report says. |
| 'Invest in child health' | 'Invest in child health' |
| Prof Russell Viner, from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said: "The UK is more unequal than many other European countries, and children aren't a priority. | Prof Russell Viner, from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said: "The UK is more unequal than many other European countries, and children aren't a priority. |
| "We have some fantastic healthcare in certain institutions in this country, but it is very patchy. | "We have some fantastic healthcare in certain institutions in this country, but it is very patchy. |
| "We want to see the NHS focus more on children's health, because they are our future workers and parents. | "We want to see the NHS focus more on children's health, because they are our future workers and parents. |
| "We need to be investing in our children's health." | "We need to be investing in our children's health." |
| A spokesman from the Department of Health said it would be investing more than £16bn in local government public health services to help tackle inequalities. | A spokesman from the Department of Health said it would be investing more than £16bn in local government public health services to help tackle inequalities. |
| "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," he said. | "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," he said. |
| 'Priority' | 'Priority' |
| Aileen Campbell, Public Health Minister in Scotland, said: "We agree that our children's health should be a priority for all." | Aileen Campbell, Public Health Minister in Scotland, said: "We agree that our children's health should be a priority for all." |
| She said the Scottish government had: | She said the Scottish government had: |
| And it would now be focusing on delivering a child health and wellbeing strategy for Scotland. | And it would now be focusing on delivering a child health and wellbeing strategy for Scotland. |
| A Welsh government spokesman said it would be addressing health inequalities in Wales as part of a new healthy child programme. | A Welsh government spokesman said it would be addressing health inequalities in Wales as part of a new healthy child programme. |