Public health

Resource

Impact of social media on children and young people's wellbeing - consultation response

In 2018 we responded to the Science and Technology committee inquiry into the impact of social media and screen use on young people’s health.

Wellbeing for children and young people

Safeguarding

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.

Topic page

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

RCPCH responds to the Government's Prevention Green Paper

23 July 2019

Yesterday the Government published its eagerly awaited green paper on prevention, seeking views on its proposals to tackle the causes of preventable ill health in England. We know that primary prevention that begins before birth is crucial to the success of the NHS Long Term Plan, and so RCPCH welco...

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.

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

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

Cartoons on children's food packaging are “irresponsible” and “exploitative”

4 June 2019

A survey has found that cartoons are being used on food packaging to market products high in fat, sugar, and salt to children.

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".