UK failing a generation of young people, health experts warn

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH)’s State of Child Health 2020 report found that health outcomes are particularly poor for children who live in deprived areas.

Child obesity is a major concern, the report states.

This is almost four times as prevalent in the UK’s most deprived areas than in the least disadvantaged among four to five-year-olds. According to the college’s research, the prevalence of children in this age group who are obese or overweight has not “improved significantly in any of the four countries since 2006/7.”

The report highlights concern about the impact of rising child poverty on health outcomes. After housing costs, 4.1m children live in poverty in the UK, which is an increase of 500,000 between 2011/12 and 2016/17, says the RCPCH.

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Around half (47 per cent) of children in working single-parent families live in poverty.

Inequalities between advantaged and disadvantaged children have grown since the last health check report in 2017, the report states.

The UK is also lagging behind other countries in terms of improving children's health. An example the report gives is that the UK has one of the highest mortality rates in Europe for children with asthma.

Our #StateOfChildHealth 2020 report is out now. For many measures of children’s health, progress has stalled—or is in reverse. We’re in danger of failing a generation due to preventable problems. Read more then visit our interactive site: https://t.co/QlsvAfv3yy pic.twitter.com/eD0pbjV4km

— RCPCH (@RCPCHtweets) March 4, 2020

“In many areas of healthcare, we’ve led the rest of the world,” said RCPCH president Russell Viner.

“But we’re in danger of failing a generation if we don’t turn this situation around. The government has made welcome commitments on childhood obesity and young people’s mental health but we need to see delivery in these and other areas.

“We have the evidence, the experience and the expertise to make real progress in the life of this government. It’s now time to deliver for children and young people.”

Another indicator of poor health is youth violence, with the college concerned that the rate of assaults among young people has risen in England, while falling or remaining stable in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Rising mental health problems among young people is another concern raised in the report. It found that from 1999 to 2017 the prevalence of mental health disorders rose from 9.7 per cent to 11.2 per cent among five- to 15-year-olds. 

Other indicators of poor health detailed in the report include whether a child or young person has experience of the care system.

The report highlights a rise in the rate of children subject to child protection proceedings or support. England has seen the greatest increase among UK nations. Between 2004 and 2018 this rose from 24 to 45 children per 10,000 under 18-year-olds.

The government should introduce a cross-departmental strategy to tackle children’s health issues, including monitoring child poverty and health inequalities, according to a set of recommendations made by the college.

Reversing £1bn in public health grant cuts to councils and increasing the number of school nurses and mental health counsellors are among other calls made by the RCPCH.

The college also wants to see health visiting services protected.

“Investment in preventative health services must now be prioritised by the new UK government,” said report co-author and community paediatrician Dr Rakhee Shah.

“England has seen a huge decline in spending on local services and I see the results of that every day of my working life, especially for my most disadvantaged patients.

“The cuts to services also have an impact on our NHS – people have fewer places to go to get advice, support, and stay well.”