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A new report from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) warns that child health outcomes across the UK have either stalled or worsened across all 12 of its key health indicators, raising concerns that the country is on course to raise one of its unhealthiest generations in decades.
The State of Child Health 2026 report assesses measures including infant mortality, obesity, mental health, immunisations, oral health, asthma, injuries, smoking and vaping, substance use and child development. According to the College, little or no progress has been made across these indicators since its previous review, with some measures deteriorating further.
The report highlights that more than one million children and young people in England had an active referral to NHS mental health services during 2024/25, reflecting continued demand for specialist support. It also notes that childhood vaccination uptake remains below recommended levels, while the UK continues to record comparatively poor outcomes for conditions including asthma and infant mortality when compared with many other Western European countries.
The RCPCH also identifies significant health inequalities, reporting that children living in the most deprived communities experience poorer health outcomes than those in less deprived areas across a range of indicators, including infant mortality and obesity.
The College is calling for sustained action to improve children’s health, including greater investment in prevention, reducing health inequalities, improving access to healthcare and strengthening the use of data to monitor progress. It says improving child health should remain a long-term priority across all four UK nations.
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Posted by:
Mehala
Editorial Assistant – The Daily Round
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