Daily roundup: Heart surgery U-turn, child poverty figures, and female genital mutilation
Gabriella Jozwiak, Neil Puffett, Tristan Donovan
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Child heart surgery restructure ditched, 2.3 million children live in poverty, and MPs criticise female genital mutilation failures, all in the news today.
Controversial reforms to reduce the number of hospitals providing children’s heart surgery from 10 to seven have been halted. The Independent reports that Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt ditched the plans following a report on the proposals, which found they were based on “flawed analysis”. The decision means reprieves for units at Leeds General Infirmary, Glenfield hospital in Leicester and Royal Brompton in London.
Some 2.3 million children were living in relative poverty in 2011/12, the latest government statistics have revealed. The figure is unchanged from 2010/11 but 300,000 more children are now living in absolute poverty. But Anita Tiessen, deputy executive director of UNICEF UK, said the present day figure is likely to be higher: "In the time period covered by today's figures, major austerity measures - like cuts to council tax benefit and the introduction of the bedroom tax - had not yet come into force, so this data does not reflect their probable harmful impact on children's wellbeing."
Police and social workers are failing to tackle female genital mutilation (FGM) in the UK for fear of being seen as politically incorrect, a group of MPs has said. A report by the International Development Select Committee said it was “unforgivable” that there have been no prosecutions in the UK when an estimated 20,000 girls are believed to be at risk of FGM. The BBC reports that the committee said it was "appalled" there had been 148 referrals of FGM cases in the past four years but no girls had been placed on the child protection register by police or social services.
Young offenders who turn 18 in youth jails are to be subject to compulsory supervision for at least a year after they leave custody. The Daily Express reports that the move will affect around 700 young people each year and is intended to reduce rates of reoffending.
The number of children admitted to hospital for illnesses linked to obesity has quadrupled in a decade, according to research. Figures published by Imperial College showed the number of five- to 19-year-olds treated in 2009 was 3,800 – up from 872 in 2000. The Evening Standard reports rising cases of children requiring gastric bands and pregnancy complications suffered by teenagers because of their weight.
And finally, too few maintained schools are setting high enough standards for the brightest students, Ofsted has claimed. A report published today by the education watchdog revealed that 65 per cent of high-attaining primary school children did not go on to achieve an A* or A grade in GCSE English and mathematics in 2012 in non-selective secondary schools. But National Union of Teachers' general secretary Christine Blower refuted the claims. “Ofsted’s evidence to support their claims of schools failing the most academically able is wrong,” she said. “Key Stage 2 tests results were not designed as a predictor for GCSEs and many secondary schools re-test pupils in year seven to take into account cognitive skills.”
The next daily bulletin will be published on Monday 17 June 2013.