Measures to protect children's health strongly supported by public, poll finds

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/mar/02/public-support-childrens-health-poll-junk-food

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There is strong public support for protecting children’s health with 20mph speed limits in built-up areas and banning junk food advertisements on television before 9pm, a new poll reveals.

Almost two-thirds (64%) of Britons want to stop products high in fat, salt and sugar from being advertised on TV before the watershed in order to reduce young people’s exposure to them, according to a ComRes poll commissioned by the UK’s children’s doctors.

While caring for our ageing population is important, it shouldn’t mean children’s health falls to the wayside

Three-quarters (77%) want more done to help pregnant women to reduce risky behaviour such as drinking, and 63% support NHS funding for urgent and emergency care being diverted into preventing illness through promotion of healthy eating and physical activity.

Many people – 94% of the 2,118 adults polled – say that children’s healthcare and that care of the elderly should be an important priority for the NHS.

“We often see policies hitting the headlines that are targeted at the ageing population. Increased funding for dementia research and additional dementia training for NHS workers are among the pledges that have been made in recent weeks,” said Dr Hilary Cass, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, which commissioned the poll.

“But while caring for our ageing population is important, it shouldn’t mean that children’s health falls by the wayside. This poll shows that the voting public care as much about child health as they do care for the elderly,” she added.

Related: Children’s healthcare must not suffer at the hands of politicians chasing the ‘grey vote’ | Letter: Dr Hilary Cass and 21 others

The UK’s rates of child mortality and childhood obesity – both are the highest in western Europe – made it vital that the next government pursues bold policies to improve child health, she added.

The fact that an estimated 850,000 children and young people have a serious mental health condition underlines the need for greater investment in children and adolescent mental health services, Cass said.

The poll also found that 90% back all schoolchildren being taught to cook and learn about nutrition and 80% support compulsory personal, social and health education.