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This report shows that too many children and young people in Scotland are being let down, with those living in the poorest communities facing the worst health outcomes. It is unacceptable that Scotland also has the highest reported child mortality rates among the UK nations. For paediatricians, it is deeply distressing to witness children experiencing preventable declines in their health and wellbeing, particularly in communities facing the greatest levels of poverty and disadvantage.
These outcomes are not inevitable. That is why we are calling on the Scottish Government to deliver sustained investment and prioritise prevention, so that every child has the opportunity to grow up healthy and thrive.
Headline recommendations
To improve child health outcomes in Scotland, the Scottish Government must deliver on these three priorities:
- Data: Strengthen the quality, collection, linkage and sharing of child health data through standardised national reporting to support a connected, data-informed child health system that improves understanding of population need and service pressures, identifies gaps early, informs policy and workforce planning, enables transparent monitoring, and delivers better outcomes for children and young people.
- Targets: Establish a national accountability framework for children's health, underpinned by clear, measurable targets across the 12 State of Child Health indicators and focused on reducing inequalities. Progress should be monitored and publicly reported on a regular basis, with action taken where outcomes are deteriorating or inequalities are widening. Existing targets are fragmented and inconsistent, limiting sustained national action and accountability.
- Investment: Ensure investment in children's health services and workforce is aligned with population need and addresses the inequity in funding between child and adult health services. This should be supported by a national child health workforce strategy to address staffing pressures and ensure services can deliver timely, coordinated care.
This report raises concerning failings in upholding children in Scotland’s right to the best possible standard of mental and physical health. Children from minority ethnic groups or living in poverty are impacted most, and this is deeply worrying.
My office shares concerns that mental health services in Scotland are not there when children need them, and too often leave young people without support before reaching crisis point. They must have access to services, care, and treatment appropriate to their age and condition. Without this, their rights to health, development, and life can all be impacted.
We support calls for improved data collection and transparency, not only to improve care but to enable children to engage with government action on their rights.
The Scottish Government must take this report seriously and take action, including through investment in services, to improve children’s right to health. We need better data collection to see the true picture and inform effective change. Children should be able to see what progress is – or isn’t – being made. There needs to be greater transparency so that the Scottish Government and public authorities can be held accountable.