The Academy of Medical Sciences is investigating the impact of improving health in the early years across the life course, and on the economic prosperity of the nation.
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- Child health
Child health
Throughout 2023/24, the Academy of Medical Sciences has been undertaking a major policy project involving researchers, charities, policymakers, health and care professionals, parents and carers to examine the impact of intervening in the early years (from preconception up to age five) on the health and prosperity of the nation.
The first report, published in February 2024, brings together the current evidence of the impact of the early years on long-term mental and physical health and highlights examples of effective, evidence-based interventions that can be made to improve child and lifelong health.
The report, co-chaired by Professor Helen Minnis FMedSci and Professor Sir Andrew Pollard FMedSci, recommends urgent actions that should be taken to have the biggest impact on children’s health now and to secure the health and prosperity of the nation in the future.
Download the report here or from the downloads section of this page.
Child health in the UK is deteriorating. In recent years, the infant survival rate in the UK has stalled and is worse than in 60% of similar countries. There is higher demand for children’s mental health services, an increase in the number of children who have obesity and a decrease in children having vaccinations, and tooth decay remains the leading cause of children’s hospital admissions.
Every child has the right to a safe and healthy childhood. Health and wellbeing in the early years of life lay a solid foundation for adulthood, bringing health and economic benefits to the whole of society. Current and future UK Governments must prioritise improving health and wellbeing and reducing inequalities in the first five years of life.
To do so, the Academy recommends that the following five priorities are urgently addressed:
- Implementing effective interventions to improve child health and wellbeing and promoting research to identify further approaches.
- Establishing a unifying vision across Government for the early years to overcome policy silos.
- Addressing the decline in the child and family health workforce and fragmentation across sectors to deliver effective services for children.
- Collecting, improving access to, and linking a broader range of data to facilitate research into interventions and policies that improve child health and wellbeing and their effective implementation.
- Ensuring diverse child, parent and carer perspectives are represented in the development and implementation of new policies and interventions to facilitate their uptake and improve the likelihood of their success.
Taking action now will build a healthier, more prosperous society for all.
This report launched on 5 February 2024. Read the press release.
Key contacts
Angel Yiangou
Senior Policy Manager
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View staff bioDr Hannah Chance
Policy Officer
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