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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 a toolkit to make a difference. It’s time to #ShiftTheDial
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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

Our toolkit - watch the introduction, then click on the links below

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
Icon of hand holding placard - background of repeated icon of family - 'Toolkit'

5 -Take national political action

Almost 1,100 members signed our letters to political leaders across the UK last autumn, and over 100 of you wrote to MPs across the UK calling on them to intervene in Parliament.
Find out more and take action
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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
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Still time to catch up up on our webinar

You can now register to watch our half-day webinar, which took place in mid January, on demand. We explored how paediatricians can support children and families experiencing poverty, design NHS services to address health inequalities and advocate for change in government policy.

Find out more and register to watch on demand

"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