UK Children Face One of the Worst Health Generations in Decades, Paediatricians Warn

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) released the *State of Child Health* report, finding that health outcomes for children across the United Kingdom have either stalled or worsened on all 12 measured indicators. The analysis, covering infant mortality, oral health, obesity, vaccination rates, mental-health disorders and asthma, paints a picture of “one of the unhealthiest generations in decades.”

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• Only 84 % of five-year-olds receive the two-dose MMR vaccine, below the World Health Organization’s 95 % target and the lowest among G7 nations.

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• The UK records one of the highest asthma-related mortality rates in Europe.

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• Infant mortality has shown little improvement since 2023 and remains higher than in other European countries.

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• Both infant mortality and obesity are more than twice as high in the most deprived areas compared with the least deprived, underscoring stark socioeconomic gaps.

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Dr Helen Stewart, RCPCH officer for health improvement, called the findings “a national embarrassment” and urged the incoming government to set clear national targets, invest in child-health services, and improve data sharing. A government spokesperson acknowledged “a decade of neglect” and outlined measures such as ending the two-child limit, expanding mental-health support in schools, opening family hubs, tightening rules on smoking, vapes and junk-food advertising, and providing free breakfast clubs and universal-credit school meals.

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Health-charity chief executive Sarah Woolnough (King’s Fund) described the report as a “wake-up call,” warning that without urgent, sustained action today’s children risk poorer health than previous generations. The RCPCH also cited a YouGov poll showing only 12 % of parents believe child health has improved over the past ten years, suggesting public perception aligns with the data.

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• “The UK’s record on children’s health should be a national embarrassment,” — Dr Helen Stewart, RCPCH officer for health improvement

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• “For example, only 84% of children in the UK receive two doses of the MMR vaccine by age five, which is below the World Health Organization’s 95% target and makes the UK the worst performing of G7 nations.” — RCPCH report

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• “Rates of both infant mortality and obesity were found to be more than twice as high in the most deprived areas compared with the least deprived.” — RCPCH report

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• “Without urgent and sustained action, there is a real risk that today’s children will experience poorer health than previous generations,” — Sarah Woolnough, chief executive, the King’s Fund

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• “We’re also giving primary pupils a healthier start to the day with free breakfast clubs and providing free school meals to every single child from a household in receipt of universal credit.” — Government spokesperson

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