Health policy

Topic page

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.

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NHS 10 Year Health Plan

The UK Government released this plan on 3 July 2025, outlining long-term priorities for improving health outcomes in England. Over past months we've been making the case for children and the child health workforce - with members and with children and young people. We recognise the plan's potential a...

News

Improvements made but more work to be done, says Britain's largest evaluation of NHS maternity and neonatal services

11 July 2019

RCPCH President responds to latest National Maternity and Perinatal Audit and says whilst the expansion of perinatal mental health support is particularly welcome, support services are under immense pressure. He urges an immediate moratorium on any further cuts so "pregnant women and their children ...

News

Year 8 boys to be offered free HPV vaccine

9 July 2019

The move by Public Health England could prevent over 100,000 cancers. The RCPCH's Immunisation Expert responds.

Document

NHS Long Term Plan Implementation Framework - Priority areas and funding for children and young people

On 27 June 2019, NHS England published the Long Term Plan Implementation Framework (the Framework). We summarise the key parts relevant for our members and for child health, including an outline of who should be involved in the creation of the five-year local-level plans as well as the broad funding...

Health policy

Service design

NHS plan

News

Tougher baby food regulations needed to improve child health, say experts

27 June 2019

The measure forms part of a range of recommendations made by RCPCH as part of our ambitious “Prevention Vision”. The amount of free sugar in baby food should be reduced and the Government should place a “moratorium” on public health funding cuts, according to bold recommendations outlined today by l...

News

Scotland eBulletin - June 2019

26 June 2019

Steve Turner, Officer for Scotland, introduces this month's newsletter for our members in Scotland. Get caught up with the latest news...

News

RCPCH responds to healthy school food move

13 June 2019

Prof Steve Turner welcomes Scottish Government's decision to change nutritional standards in schools to include more fruit and vegetables and less processed red meat and sugar.

Resource

Food advertising restrictions - consultation response

In 2019 we responded to the Government’s plans to place advertising restrictions on products high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS). We support a 21:00 watershed approach for both TV and online, ideally without any exemptions. We support the use of the Nutrient Profile Model to identify food and drinks ...

Health policy

Public health

Obesity

News

Hospital ban on sale of high-energy drinks to under-16s

26 May 2019

The sale of high-energy drinks to under-16s is being banned in hospital retail units. RCPCH's Officer for Scotland welcomes the move to "make NHS hospital sites healthier", but wants "similar measures put in place off NHS sites, to protect and improve child health across Scotland".