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Child health inequalities

The influence of poverty on children’s health and wellbeing is undeniable. With insight from paediatricians, children and young people, we outline our position on health inequalities to Government, and provide paediatricians with tools to make a difference. It’s time to #ShiftTheDial
Document

Our position - the evidence and policy recommendations for UK

Health inequalities are the systematic differences in health outcomes between different groups of babies, children and young people. They are driven by factors such as ethnicity, income, housing and being looked after by local authorities.

Read our position statement

Introducing our new toolkit for paediatricians

Illustrations of heads with thinking cogs and speech mark, on background with repeated icon of family - 'Toolkit'

1 - Improve your understanding of child poverty

Understand how child poverty is defined in the UK context, including evidence of how it drives health inequalities and affects child health outcomes.
Improve your understanding
Icons of three people with speech bubble; background with repeated icon of family - 'Toolkit'

2 - Develop skills for talking to families

Many paediatricians may find it difficult to raise questions about poverty with families. We give some tips to make this subject more approachable.
Develop skills
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3 - Prepare your own QI project

Quality improvement (QI) can be used to improve NHS services that aim to reduce child health inequalities. Collaboration is key, and we outline factors to consider.
Prepare QI project
Icon of unrolled scroll with megaphone - on background of repeated icon of family - 'Toolkit'

4 - Advocate for change

Prevention is better than cure, and inequalities cannot improve without repairing the inherent problems in society. We offer key principles, plus the data to support your case.
Advocate for change
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5 -Take national political action

We're now asking members to sign our letter to the new Prime Minister of the UK, First Minster in Scotland or Wales, or national leadership in Northern Ireland - to prioritise reducing child health inequalities.
Take political action
Icon of letter with pencil - background of repeated icon of family - 'Toolkit'

6 - Influence local children's services

Reducing child health inequalities is a priority for health services in all four nations. We provide a template letter, to which you can add your unique perspective, to help shape better care and outcomes locally.
Influence local children's services

"Everyone deserves the world"

RCPCH &Us asked 500 children and young people across the UK what helps them to stay healthy, happy and well. And to think about why some might have things going on that stops this from happening...

Download letter
Medical case

How are child health teams making a difference?

Our case studies demonstrate how teams are addressing child health inequalities in their local areas.

Get inspired by these best practice examples as you develop your own projects.  

Case studies

Our latest news and blogs on health inequalities

All news
Dr Camilla Kingdon President, RCPCH
President's blog
15 July 2022

Using data to improve our communities - President's blog

This week Camilla joined a symposium with an inspiring, energised group of professionals to look at the health inequalities identified in the 'Born in Bradford' programme - so how can we spread such ideas more widely?