Citation
Morris, B. (2001), "Plans to improve child health", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 14 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijhcqa.2001.06214aab.006
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2001, MCB UP Limited
Plans to improve child health
Plans to improve child health
In October 2000, Public Health Minister, Yvette Cooper, set out the Government's commitment to improve child health during a speech to the Community Practitioners and Health Visitors Association. Ms Cooper said that the Government has serious concerns over children's health and warned that recent gains in life expectancy could be lost for some of today's children if current trends in children's health continue.
Ms Cooper said that the Government will be introducing new child health targets next year to reduce the inequalities in child health and is launching a nationwide consultation process to determine which factors should be considered. The targets, which will set standards across the NHS, may include action on areas such as infant mortality rates, low birthweights or emergency admissions to hospital for accidents or serious illnesses.
The Government is also planning a major expansion of the SureStart programme to provide a decent start in life to children in low income areas and will be introducing a scheme to improve access to healthy foods for schoolchildren before the end of this year. The National Diet and Nutrition Survey, published in April, showed that one in five children ate no fruit during the survey period, that there are low levels of physical activity among children and teenagers and that obesity in children has trebled since 1980. The survey also reported that children in low income groups are 50 per cent less likely to eat fruit and vegetables than those in the highest income groups and that diets of schoolchildren are heavily dependent on foods which are rich in fat, sugar and salt.
Further information on the National Diet and Nutrition Survey, published by the Department of Health and Food Standards Agency in April 2000, is available on the Department of Health Web site at http://www.doh.gov.uk