The review from Lord Darzi on the deteriorating health of children and young people makes for grim reading. With headlines including falling vaccinations, significant A&E waits for infants and huge rises in hospital admissions for young people with eating disorders. It also highlights that children from the most deprived backgrounds are now twice as likely to be obese by age five, and one in three children is obese by 11 in the poorest communities.
Children are just over 20% of our present but 100% of our future. Yet, when we examine the current state of children’s healthcare in the UK, it’s clear that we are failing to safeguard this future. The statistics paint a grim picture of a health system in crisis, particularly when it comes to our youngest and vulnerable. Over the last 15 years, children’s health has been steadily declining, and the strain on our NHS has reached breaking point. This silent crisis demands urgent attention.
One of the most shocking indicators of this decline is the growing delay in A&E waiting times for infants. More than 10,000 infants, some of the most vulnerable members of our society, have been left waiting for over six hours in A&E departments. This is a figure that should alarm us all. Over the last 15 years, waiting times for infants in emergency departments have risen by 60%. In urgent, life-threatening situations, time is everything, and these delays could have long-lasting consequences on the health and well-being of our children.
The challenges extend beyond emergency care. Today, nearly 800,000 children and young people are on NHS waiting lists for vital treatments. Of these, 175,000 have been waiting between six months and a year, and 35,000 have been left waiting for over a year. Behind these numbers are real children, young people, and families, forced to endure unimaginable stress and uncertainty. Many of these children are missing out on critical windows for treatment, potentially leading to chronic conditions that could have been prevented with timely intervention.
Perhaps one of the most troubling indicators of declining children’s health is the significant rise in hospital admissions. Between 2019 and 2020, admissions for children and young people with eating disorders surged by a staggering 82%. This sharp increase highlights that children are not just waiting longer for treatment, but that more of them are falling ill and requiring hospitalisation. The pandemic may have contributed to this spike, but the overall trend indicates a system that is struggling to cope with demand even before COVID-19 struck.
Despite these alarming figures, only 5% of the NHS budget is allocated to children’s health. Given that children represent over 20% of the population, this imbalance is unsustainable. Children may not be the largest users of health services in the immediate term, but they are the foundation of a healthy future. By underinvesting in their health today, we are setting ourselves up for an adult population that is more reliant on the NHS, facing more complex health challenges, and requiring more costly care.
The evidence is clear: urgent changes must be made to ensure better health outcomes for children and young people. Investment in preventative care, timely interventions, and sufficient NHS resources are essential to reverse these worrying trends. If we fail to act, the health of today’s children will have lasting repercussions on their ability to lead healthy, productive lives as adults.
We must also address the mental health crisis among children and young people. With long waiting lists for mental health services, many are being left untreated during critical developmental years. A comprehensive approach to children’s health must consider not only their physical well-being but their mental and emotional health as well.
To the government and our NHS, this is an open challenge: re-prioritise the health of our children and young people. Increase funding for paediatric services, reduce waiting times, and ensure every child has access to the care they need, when they need it. Our children's futures depend on the actions we take today.
Let’s remember: children are our greatest resource. They represent our hopes, dreams, and aspirations for the future. Their health should be our top priority, not an afterthought. While the situation may seem dire, there is still hope. With the right investments and policy changes, we can turn the tide and build a healthier, more resilient generation of children.
The future is in our hands. Let’s make sure it’s a healthy one.
Children are just over 20% of our present but 100% of our future. Yet, when we examine the current state of children’s healthcare in the UK, it’s clear that we are failing to safeguard this future. The statistics paint a grim picture of a health system in crisis, particularly when it comes to our youngest and vulnerable. Over the last 15 years, children’s health has been steadily declining, and the strain on our NHS has reached breaking point. This silent crisis demands urgent attention.
One of the most shocking indicators of this decline is the growing delay in A&E waiting times for infants. More than 10,000 infants, some of the most vulnerable members of our society, have been left waiting for over six hours in A&E departments. This is a figure that should alarm us all. Over the last 15 years, waiting times for infants in emergency departments have risen by 60%. In urgent, life-threatening situations, time is everything, and these delays could have long-lasting consequences on the health and well-being of our children.
The challenges extend beyond emergency care. Today, nearly 800,000 children and young people are on NHS waiting lists for vital treatments. Of these, 175,000 have been waiting between six months and a year, and 35,000 have been left waiting for over a year. Behind these numbers are real children, young people, and families, forced to endure unimaginable stress and uncertainty. Many of these children are missing out on critical windows for treatment, potentially leading to chronic conditions that could have been prevented with timely intervention.
Perhaps one of the most troubling indicators of declining children’s health is the significant rise in hospital admissions. Between 2019 and 2020, admissions for children and young people with eating disorders surged by a staggering 82%. This sharp increase highlights that children are not just waiting longer for treatment, but that more of them are falling ill and requiring hospitalisation. The pandemic may have contributed to this spike, but the overall trend indicates a system that is struggling to cope with demand even before COVID-19 struck.
Despite these alarming figures, only 5% of the NHS budget is allocated to children’s health. Given that children represent over 20% of the population, this imbalance is unsustainable. Children may not be the largest users of health services in the immediate term, but they are the foundation of a healthy future. By underinvesting in their health today, we are setting ourselves up for an adult population that is more reliant on the NHS, facing more complex health challenges, and requiring more costly care.
The evidence is clear: urgent changes must be made to ensure better health outcomes for children and young people. Investment in preventative care, timely interventions, and sufficient NHS resources are essential to reverse these worrying trends. If we fail to act, the health of today’s children will have lasting repercussions on their ability to lead healthy, productive lives as adults.
We must also address the mental health crisis among children and young people. With long waiting lists for mental health services, many are being left untreated during critical developmental years. A comprehensive approach to children’s health must consider not only their physical well-being but their mental and emotional health as well.
To the government and our NHS, this is an open challenge: re-prioritise the health of our children and young people. Increase funding for paediatric services, reduce waiting times, and ensure every child has access to the care they need, when they need it. Our children's futures depend on the actions we take today.
Let’s remember: children are our greatest resource. They represent our hopes, dreams, and aspirations for the future. Their health should be our top priority, not an afterthought. While the situation may seem dire, there is still hope. With the right investments and policy changes, we can turn the tide and build a healthier, more resilient generation of children.
The future is in our hands. Let’s make sure it’s a healthy one.
