Report Shows Child Healthcare Varies 'Dramatically' - NCB

The health and development of children under five-years-old varies 'dramatically' between different authorities in England, according to a new report.

The National Children's Bureau (NCB) report found a child living in one area is far more likely to be in poor health than another living relatively close by.

One statistic from the report states a five-year-old in Leicester is over five times more likely to have tooth decay than a child of the same age in West Sussex.

Another example found a young child on the Isle of Wight is four times more likely to be admitted to hospital with an injury than a similar child in Westminster.

Anna Feuchtwang, Chief Executive of the NCB, said it was 'shocking' that two children growing up in neighbouring areas experience a 'wildly different' quality of healthcare.

"As these variations are closely linked to poverty, with those in areas with the highest levels of deprivation more likely to suffer from a range of health issues, we have to ask whether England is becoming a nation of two halves?

'The link between poverty and poor health is not inevitable. Work is urgently needed to understand how local health services can lessen the impact of living in a deprived area.

"We need local and national government to make the same efforts to narrow the gap in health outcomes across the country for under-fives as has been made to narrow the gap in achievement between poor and rich pupils in school."

Ms Feuchtwang added the Government must make it a 'national mission' to ensure the health and development of children under five is improved.

(LM)