UK child health report warns of declining health for children

A new analysis by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) found that child health in the United Kingdom has either stalled or worsened across all twelve measured indicators. Only 84% of children receive the recommended two doses of the MMR vaccine by age five, well below the World Health Organization’s 95% target, while more than one‑third of ten‑year‑olds are overweight or obese. One in five children aged eight to sixteen is likely to have a mental‑health disorder, and asthma‑related deaths remain among the highest in Europe. Infant mortality and obesity rates are more than twice as high in the most deprived areas, and 22% of five‑year‑olds suffer tooth decay, with just 57% having seen an NHS dentist in the past year. Dr Helen Stewart described the findings as a "national embarrassment" and urged the new government to set clear targets, increase investment in child health services, and address the stark health inequalities. The government has responded by pledging measures such as ending the two‑child benefit limit, expanding school‑based mental‑health support, and creating family hubs to improve outcomes for the most disadvantaged children.