Hidden away inside the front cover of the Times was this absolutely scandalous report about the health of the nations children. I read it with absolute disgust and contempt for this government which has neglected the health of the nation and to allow it's inaction to destroy the lives of young people. The infant mortality rate beggars belief.
Please read it. You will will end up angry and in near tears like me if you really care.
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Infant mortality rates are worse in the UK than most other developed countries, with experts warning of an “appalling decline in the health of our children” linked to obesity and deprivation.
A report by the Academy of Medical Sciences has highlighted wide-ranging evidence of declining health among young children, particularly in poorer areas of Britain. This included a fall in childhood vaccinations, with uptake at the lowest level for more than a decade, leading to a
major outbreak of measles in Birmingham in recent weeks.
The report states that
the UK ranks 30th out of 49 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries for infant survival, which is the proportion of children born who live until their first birthday. Reductions in infant mortality have stalled in recent years, linked to a rise in child poverty. Meanwhile
20 per cent of five-year-olds are overweight or obese, with one in four suffering from tooth decay. Those living in the most deprived areas are twice as likely to be obese than in affluent areas, and
the number of children living in extreme poverty tripled between 2019 and 2022.
The report also warned of a surge in mental health problems among young children since the Covid pandemic. It said early intervention was vital, as the brain is most adaptable in younger children when it is still developing.
Report co-chair, Professor Helen Minnis, of the University of Glasgow, said: “It is shameful that the UK is failing to provide this.
Child deaths are rising, infant survival lags behind comparable countries and preventable physical and mental health issues plague our youngest citizens. The science is clear — we are betraying our children. Unless the health of babies and young children is urgently prioritised, we condemn many to a life of poorer health and lost potential. The time to act is now.”