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Prevention of ill health

Prevention is an integral part of the solution to many of the problems that children face in the UK - from increasing mortality rates, to high prevalence of obesity, to widening social and health inequalities.
Document

"Securing our healthy future: Prevention is better than cure"

Set in the context of a political deprioritisation of children and young people within the UK Government’s current health agenda, this report, published by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges in September 2023, makes the case for prioritising the prevention of ill health in childhood.
View full report on Academy of Medical Royal College's website
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Evidence on child health outcomes

State of Child Health is our landmark report into the health and wellbeing of children and young people in the UK. This looks at three indicators around prevention of ill health: immunisations, healthy weight and oral health.
Evidence
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Government paper on health prevention

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)'s green paper in 2019, "Advancing our health: prevention in the 2020s", included proposals to tackle the causes of preventable ill health in England - looking at services, choices and conditions.
Our summary
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Our response

We responded to the consultation on this green paper. We were supportive of many of the Government's ambitious plans, but noted the need for sufficient funding and cross-government focus on improving the social conditions in which people are born and live.
Our response

News about public health and prevention

All news
Steve Turner at PEDICON 2025, Hyderabad
President's update
20 January 2025

Common challenges facing health systems around the world - President's update

Since a recent visit to India, Steve considers some shared issues in paediatrics and child health around the world. The College has done lots of thinking about what's needed in England through our blueprint, response to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill and work on the 10 Year Health Plan - ...
Health professionals in scrubs walking down hospital corridor
Media response
6 January 2025

RCPCH responds to Elective Recovery Plan

Paediatricians reiterate need for adequate workforce planning and funding for to tackle out of control waiting times for child health services.