UK is failing its children, warns leading doctor

‘APPALLING DECLINE IN HEALTH OF UNDER-5S’

THE UK is “failing too many of its children”, according to a leading North East doctor,

Dr Mike Mckean is a doctor at the Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust who also leads the North East and North Cumbria Child Health and Wellbeing Network, while he is also the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health’s vice-president for health policy.

Dr Mckean was commenting on a report published this week by the Academy for Medical Sciences which claims that progress on child health has “stalled” in recent years.

He said: “This report provides alarming evidence that the UK is failing too many of its children.

“We are presiding over a crisis in child health that demands urgent action. As paediatricians, we witness daily the devastating consequences of these systemic failures. Without transformative intervention on child health, we condemn generations to a poorer future.”

In the report, AMS co-chairs Professor Helen Minnis and Professor Sir Andrew Pollard have outlined concerns including that youngsters are being “betrayed” as the UK fails to give them a healthy start to life.

The report has found that there has been an “appalling decline” of the health of children under the age of five in the UK – with soaring rates of obesity and tooth decay.

Key concerns outlined in the report include:

■ More than a fifth of children aged five are overweight or obese.

■ Nearly a quarter of five-year-olds in England are affected by tooth decay.

■ Between 2014 and 2017 there was a rise in infant mortality in England – disproportionately affecting the poorest parts of the country.

■ The UK ranks 30th out of 49 OECD countries for infant mortality. a decrease in the proportion of children having vaccinations.

■ A rise in demand for children’s mental health services.

Professor Minnis, of Glasgow University, said: “Child deaths are rising, infant survival lags behind comparable countries, and preventable physical and mental health issues plague our youngest citizens.

“The science is clear – we are betraying our children. Unless the health of babies and young children is urgently prioritised, we condemn many to a life of poorer health and lost potential. The time to act is now.”

Professor Pollard, from the University of Oxford, added: “There are huge challenges for the NHS today, driven by the growing pressures on health and social care from an ageing population.

‘“Even more disconcerting is the evidence cited in our Academy of Medical Sciences report of an appalling decline in the health of our children, which makes for an even more bleak outlook for their future. There is clear evidence in the report that tackling childhood health conditions, addressing inequalities and providing early years social support can change the future of health and prosperity.”

In response, a Government spokesperson said: “We’ve taken significant action to improve children’s health, both now and in the long term. This includes dramatically reducing sugar in children’s foods, investing over £600 million to improve the quality of sport for children, and encouraging healthy diets for families from lower income households through schemes like Healthy Start.”

Dr Mike Mckean