Nearly a decade after we first published first State of Child Health, outcomes for children have worsened or in some cases stagnated, reversing years of progress and evidencing limited improvements. The impact is felt most sharply in deprived areas and among ethnic minority communities.
The data is yet another warning sign to act. With up-to-date analysis and insight from paediatricians, State of Child Health is a roadmap for decision-makers across the UK. It outlines what is needed to achieve the ambition of the healthiest and happiest generation of children.
The report identifies three key themes that drive worsening outcomes for children and young people:
- Child health data gaps – with poor quality and inconsistent data recording and sharing
- Widening child health inequalities – with deprivation strongly linked to poorer outcomes
- Underinvestment in the child health workforce – reducing capacity and coordination across child health services.
Without urgent action, paediatricians are clear that we risk raising one of the unhealthiest generations of children in recent decades.
Go to State of Child Health 2026
The 2020 and 2017 reports have been archived. If you have any questions, please contact us on health.policy@rcpch.ac.uk.