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| Health of children in Scotland 'among worst in Europe' | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The health of children in Scotland is among the worst in Europe, according to a major new study. | |
| An "alarming" gap between rich and poor is risking the health of the youngest generation, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) report warns. | An "alarming" gap between rich and poor is risking the health of the youngest generation, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) report warns. |
| It calls for bold action on smoking, obesity and child poverty. | It calls for bold action on smoking, obesity and child poverty. |
| The Scottish government said it was committed to ensuring the best start in life for children. | The Scottish government said it was committed to ensuring the best start in life for children. |
| And it hailed progress in changing relationships with tobacco and alcohol, with the report showing a decline in the number of young people smoking and drinking. | And it hailed progress in changing relationships with tobacco and alcohol, with the report showing a decline in the number of young people smoking and drinking. |
| Critics said the report proved that "dramatic action" was needed to safeguard the health of children in Scotland. | Critics said the report proved that "dramatic action" was needed to safeguard the health of children in Scotland. |
| The key findings of the study include: | The key findings of the study include: |
| The report looks at 25 health rates including asthma, diabetes and epilepsy, as well as obesity, breastfeeding and mortality, to provide a snapshot of health and wellbeing. | The report looks at 25 health rates including asthma, diabetes and epilepsy, as well as obesity, breastfeeding and mortality, to provide a snapshot of health and wellbeing. |
| It says Scotland leads the way with high vaccination rates, few cases of tooth decay and a decline in suicide rates among young people. | |
| But the report adds: "Child health in Scotland is amongst the poorest in western Europe." | But the report adds: "Child health in Scotland is amongst the poorest in western Europe." |
| It found that children who live in poverty in Scotland are more likely to be overweight or obese, have a mother who smoked during pregnancy, and be exposed to alcohol or drug misuse. | It found that children who live in poverty in Scotland are more likely to be overweight or obese, have a mother who smoked during pregnancy, and be exposed to alcohol or drug misuse. |
| Dr Steve Turner, RCPCH officer for Scotland, said: "The Scottish government has repeatedly said that children are a priority, and its focus on strong early years provision is heartening. | Dr Steve Turner, RCPCH officer for Scotland, said: "The Scottish government has repeatedly said that children are a priority, and its focus on strong early years provision is heartening. |
| "But there are significant gaps and the problem of health inequalities is continuing to grow. | "But there are significant gaps and the problem of health inequalities is continuing to grow. |
| "It is startling that over 29% of pregnant women in the most deprived areas are smokers, compared to just 4.5% in the least deprived, putting babies at risk of complications during pregnancy and birth and increasing the likelihood of cot death or still birth. | "It is startling that over 29% of pregnant women in the most deprived areas are smokers, compared to just 4.5% in the least deprived, putting babies at risk of complications during pregnancy and birth and increasing the likelihood of cot death or still birth. |
| "Before a child is even born they are set on a path to ill health. This simply cannot be allowed to continue." | "Before a child is even born they are set on a path to ill health. This simply cannot be allowed to continue." |
| The report recommends extending the smoking ban to school grounds, sports fields and playgrounds, raising awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding, and measuring child health rates more regularly. | The report recommends extending the smoking ban to school grounds, sports fields and playgrounds, raising awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding, and measuring child health rates more regularly. |
| It suggests taking steps to implement 20mph zones in built up areas to create more safe places for children to walk, cycle and play, and to reduce the proximity of fast food outlets to schools, colleges and leisure centres. | It suggests taking steps to implement 20mph zones in built up areas to create more safe places for children to walk, cycle and play, and to reduce the proximity of fast food outlets to schools, colleges and leisure centres. |
| The RCPCH also wants the Scottish government to consider the impact on child health when considering any new policy. | The RCPCH also wants the Scottish government to consider the impact on child health when considering any new policy. |
| Dr Turner added: "Healthy children make healthy adults, so it makes not only moral, but economic sense to invest early." | Dr Turner added: "Healthy children make healthy adults, so it makes not only moral, but economic sense to invest early." |
| Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell said: "We agree that our children's health should be a priority for all. This is why this government has committed to ensuring the best start for all our children. | Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell said: "We agree that our children's health should be a priority for all. This is why this government has committed to ensuring the best start for all our children. |
| "The State of Child Health report recommendations provide focus to develop this further; including delivering on our Programme for Government a commitment to produce a child health and wellbeing strategy. | "The State of Child Health report recommendations provide focus to develop this further; including delivering on our Programme for Government a commitment to produce a child health and wellbeing strategy. |
| "We look forward to working with RCPCH to take this forward to improve all children's health over the next 10 years and beyond." | "We look forward to working with RCPCH to take this forward to improve all children's health over the next 10 years and beyond." |
| 'Irrevocably damaged' | 'Irrevocably damaged' |
| However, the Scottish government came in for criticism from opposition parties on the results of the report. | However, the Scottish government came in for criticism from opposition parties on the results of the report. |
| Miles Briggs, of the Scottish Conservatives, said it was proof that the SNP was doing little to tackle key health issues across Scotland. | Miles Briggs, of the Scottish Conservatives, said it was proof that the SNP was doing little to tackle key health issues across Scotland. |
| Scottish Labour's inequalities spokeswoman Monica Lennon described the findings as "simply appalling". | Scottish Labour's inequalities spokeswoman Monica Lennon described the findings as "simply appalling". |
| "This report highlights the failings of the SNP's decade in power to halt the impact deprivation has on a raft of health and wellbeing issues from smoking to breastfeeding," she said. | "This report highlights the failings of the SNP's decade in power to halt the impact deprivation has on a raft of health and wellbeing issues from smoking to breastfeeding," she said. |
| "Another £327m of cuts to schools and social care departments across Scotland will only make this worse. We need to take a different path." | "Another £327m of cuts to schools and social care departments across Scotland will only make this worse. We need to take a different path." |
| Meanwhile, Alex Cole-Hamilton, the Scottish Lib Dems' health spokesman said: "Scotland should aspire to be a world leader in children's health, yet our children have some of the worst health outcomes in Western Europe. | Meanwhile, Alex Cole-Hamilton, the Scottish Lib Dems' health spokesman said: "Scotland should aspire to be a world leader in children's health, yet our children have some of the worst health outcomes in Western Europe. |
| 'Shocking report' | 'Shocking report' |
| "Experts are quite right to warn that unless we take dramatic action now then some children's lives will be irrevocably damaged. | "Experts are quite right to warn that unless we take dramatic action now then some children's lives will be irrevocably damaged. |
| "We need dramatic action to curb smoking, obesity and child mortality now. To kick this issue down the road is to doom another generation to ill health and dramatically reduced prospects." | "We need dramatic action to curb smoking, obesity and child mortality now. To kick this issue down the road is to doom another generation to ill health and dramatically reduced prospects." |
| The Scottish Greens' Alison Johnstone said the "shocking report" proved that a "transformation" was needed in how government approaches the issue. | The Scottish Greens' Alison Johnstone said the "shocking report" proved that a "transformation" was needed in how government approaches the issue. |
| She called for an allowance for young carers and promotion of the living wage to prevent in-work poverty. | She called for an allowance for young carers and promotion of the living wage to prevent in-work poverty. |
| "We also need to see a shift in spending to make it easy to be active every day," she added. | "We also need to see a shift in spending to make it easy to be active every day," she added. |
| "The lack of funding for walking and cycling while motorways and air travel are set to benefit, and the deep cuts planned to sports agencies and council services, show that Scottish ministers haven't grasped how serious the situation is." | "The lack of funding for walking and cycling while motorways and air travel are set to benefit, and the deep cuts planned to sports agencies and council services, show that Scottish ministers haven't grasped how serious the situation is." |