UK is failing “one of the unhealthiest” generations of children, doctors warn

AI Summary

A landmark report warns that the UK is raising one of the unhealthiest generations of children in decades, with worsening metrics across infant mortality, mental health, obesity, immunisation, and asthma. Significant policy changes are required to improve child health outcomes amid rising inequalities.

The UK is raising one of the unhealthiest generations of children in decades, with progress stalling or declining across all key metrics of child health, a landmark report warns.1The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health’s (RCPCH) State of Child Health 2026 report says that it is a “national embarrassment” that the UK lags firmly behind other European nations in all areas of health, ranging from infant mortality and mental health to obesity, immunisation, and asthma.While the Labour government has pledged to create the “healthiest and happiest generation ever in Britain,” this will not be achieved without “significant change” in policy, the report warns.The report assessed child health across 12 indicators, using national data, clinical expertise, and policy evidence to identify trends, inequalities, and priorities for action. It concludes that widening inequalities, with poor data collection making it difficult to measure trends and develop evidence based policy, as well as...