Decline in child health in the UK is a national scandal

The steep decline in children’s health under the current government’s watch is a national scandal, documented in the Academy of Medical Sciences scathing report.1 Levels of destitution not seen since the earlier 20th century are just the tip of an iceberg of poisonous inequality, insecurity, and destruction, comprehensively chronicled by Dorling.2 The unprecedented increase in infant mortality is the last straw.3 A “unifying vision” by any government aiming to improve child health must include as a priority the reversal of these lethal injustices.Besides necessary public health initiatives—such as cleaner air, reducing teenage pregnancy, support for breastfeeding, dental health, restoration of health visitor numbers, and universal vaccination—we can add:Multidisciplinary perinatal teams for complex or confusing cases—While families in the antenatal clinic are at their most accessible and vulnerable, any mental, physical, or social problems may overlap and be missed,4 a unique opportunity wasted. A regular meeting of midwives, social workers, psychologists,…
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