UK children will be one of unhealthiest generations in decades, doctors say
Summary
A group of doctors in the UK says that children there will be among the unhealthiest in decades because child health has not improved or has worsened in many areas. Problems include low vaccination rates, rising hospital visits for asthma and mental health issues, and big health differences between richer and poorer areas.Key Facts
- Child health in the UK has stopped improving or has gotten worse across many important measures.
- Only 84% of children get both doses of the MMR vaccine by age five, below the 95% target set by the World Health Organization.
- The UK has one of the highest asthma death rates in Europe.
- Infant death rates in the UK have not improved much since 2023 and are higher than in many other European countries.
- Children from poorer areas have more than twice the rates of infant deaths and obesity compared to children from richer areas.
- A new report by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health calls the UK’s child health record a "national embarrassment."
- The report urges the new government to invest more in children’s health services, improve data collection, and set clear goals to help children’s health.
- Only 12% of parents think child health in the UK has gotten better in the last 10 years.
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