Doctors criticise lack of action to improve child health

The RCPCH's State of Child Health: One Year On report has tracked progress by governments in England, Wales and Scotland to improve children's health over the last 12 months.

It says that the UK government is lagging behind the devolved administrations of Wales and Scotland, as well as many other European countries, in terms of child health. It said the main reason is due to public health funding cuts and a lack of strategic vision across Whitehall to improve children's health.

The report criticises ministers for a not putting in place an overarching child health strategy for England as well as for failing to ban junk food advertising aimed at children. Action on these issues was among recommendations the RCPCH made last year.

The RCPCH is also concerned that there is still no way of measuring the prevalence of breastfeeding in England and that child health research had not seen any increased investment this year.  

The report identified "deepening public health cuts" as the greatest area of concern, stating that the situation is disproportionately affecting children's services. It notes that public health spending for 2017/18 is around five per cent down on the 2013/14 figure.