The recently published Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health’s (RCPCH)State of Child Healthreport outlines how, across 12 different indicators, children’s health in the UK is in decline.
Responding to the publication of the report, Dr Rachel Bradley, Chair of theBPS Faculty for Children, Young People and their Families, said:
“The report from the RCPCH makes for stark and concerning reading. Throughout their work, our members often see the effects of inequalities on children’s emotional wellbeing and physical health that are highlighted in the report.
“Reducing the gap in health outcomes is much needed, and although targets may be helpful, in order to meet them, the reasons for the inequalities need to be addressed. This will require a thorough and sustained approach across multiple government departments and at a local level.
“We firmly echo the report’s call for investment in children’s health to be rebalanced against the funding we see for services that support adults. We’d particularly welcome more funding in preventative and early-intervention measures, which would mean children’s health outcomes are addressed before the impacts are potentially more difficult to reverse”.
