The children who suffer insomnia

THOUSANDS of children are being admitted to hospital suffering from sleep disorders.

Admissions for problems such as insomnia have risen by 70 per cent in England, leading experts to label it a hidden public health problem.

They have put the rise down to increasing obesity levels, the use of social media before bedtime and a mental health crisis.

NHS Digital data analysed by the Guardian revealed hospital admissions for sleeping disorders for those under 16 have soared since 2012. They rose from 6,549 in 2012-13 to 9,451 in 2017-18, and then 11,313 in 2018-19.

The NHS-funded Children’s Sleep Charity, the only free specialist service that provides support to families for children’s sleep, has reportedly been inundated by people seeking help.

Founder Vicki Dawson said: ‘We find it hard to meet the demand due to our very limited resources. The rise will be linked to a number of factors, firstly, sleep-disordered breathing issues in children which is linked to obesity.

‘There is a problem around childhood obesity. Poor sleep quality can be a driver for it, impacting on the release of hormones that manage appetite and hunger.’ She said cases of poor mental health in children, which could be linked to sleep deprivation, were rising.

Sleep expert Rachael Taylor said the reliance on phones, tablets and TV screens could be stopping youngsters from dropping off.

She added: ‘I’m seeing more and more young children sent to bed with a screen to help them fall asleep, when it is in fact making falling asleep more difficult.’

An NHS spokesman said: ‘More must be done to limit the drivers of poor health, including the increasing use of social media and rising childhood obesity.’