According to a recent report from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health there is a growing gap in health between children of rich and poor households.
Children living in our wealthiest areas are as healthy as any in the world, but those in deprived areas have health among the worst in the developed world.
Here are the recommendations of the report:
Each UK Government to develop a child health and wellbeing strategy, coordinated, implemented and evaluated across the nation
Each UK Government to adopt a ‘child health in all policies’ approach
UK Government to introduce a ban on the advertising of foods high in saturated fat, sugar and salt in all broadcast media before 9pm
Each UK Government to develop cross-departmental support for breastfeeding; this should include a national public health campaign and a sector wide approach that includes employers, to support women to breastfeed
An expansion of national programmes to measure the height and weight of infants and children after birth, before school and during adolescence
A reversal of public health cuts in England, which are disproportionately affecting children’s services
The introduction of minimum unit alcohol pricing in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, in keeping with actions by the Scottish Government
UK Government to extend the ban on smoking in public places to schools, playgrounds and hospitals
UK Government to prohibit the marketing of electronic cigarettes to children and young people
National public health campaigns that promote good nutrition and exercise before, during and after pregnancy