‘Spending on Children’s Health Means Securing the Nation’s Infrastructure’ says new report

29/03/18

A UK child born into socioeconomic deprivation today faces life with one hand tied behind their back and spending on children’s health is as important as financing key infrastructure projects like HS2.

That was the view of the All Party Parliamentary Group on A Fit and Healthy Childhood as it launched the 9^th Report since its formation in 2014.

‘The Impact of Social and Economic Inequalities on Child Health’ welcomed the overall upward trajectory of UK child health. Between 1980 – 2009, deaths in the 1-14 year age group decreased by 61% (‘State of Child Health’, Royal Colleges of Paediatric and Child Health, 2017) and progress was boosted by health promotion, disease prevention and treatment and effective immunisation programmes. Yet the new Report shows, the children of deprivation are as likely to experience the adverse social, educational and employment outcomes of poor health as they ever were.

Wealthier, better-educated people residing in good quality housing are likely to enjoy the good health that will herald success in other areas of life. Prosperity for some and disadvantage for others, is, as ever, rooted in the childhood experience.

Introducing the Report, APPG vice-Chair, Nic Dakin MP said:

“We welcome the ground breaking 21st century advances in child health, but we can’t stand still. Today, we must build upon these advances. For social mobility to work for everyone in the United Kingdom, we should promote the early intervention policy measures that invest in children’s health now and are cheaper and more effective in the long term. That’s the way, to achieve an economy that is as productive as it can be, delivered by a truly healthy population.’The Report puts the current social mobility gridlock down to habits of re-making the policy wheel; failing to build dynamic partnerships and relying on short term fixes like benefit cuts.”

Click HERE to download a copy of the report.