The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) has published an open letter addressed to all Welsh political parties calling for a commitment to put children’s health at the heart of policymaking, ensuring the wellbeing and rights of children are not only safeguarded, but actively prioritised.
Paediatricians are increasingly alarmed by the declining state of child health in Wales. Almost one in three (32%) children are currently growing up in poverty, a higher proportion than the rest of the UK. This is having a serious impact on children’s health, with a quarter (25.5%) of children aged 4-5 years old currently overweight or obese, and a higher number of children (27.2%) aged 5-6 years old impacted by preventable diseases like tooth decay.
At the same time, children are continuing to face long waits to access health services when they need them. National waiting times data for January 2026 show there are currently 53,291 open pathways for children’s treatment, with around 12% (6,430) waiting over a year. For many, these waits present missed opportunities for critical treatment and intervention, which can lead to irreversible harm and increasing long term pressure on already stretched services.
RCPCH Wales members believe the upcoming Senedd election presents the opportunity for parties to commit to reversing these trends.
Read the open letter in English and Welsh or download below:
Every day we see the concerning impact of high levels of poverty and overstretched services on children and families across Wales. It’s extremely clear that more needs to be done; the status quo is not good enough.
That is why 170 members from across the child health community have signed our open letter, urgently calling on whoever forms the next Welsh Government to place the health and wellbeing of all babies, children and young people at the heart of their priorities for Wales.