RCPCH responds to report on growing inequalities across Wales

RCPCH responds to ‘Mind the gap: what’s stopping change?

The Welsh NHS Confederation Health and Wellbeing Alliance has published a comprehensive report ‘Mind the gap: what’s stopping change?’, on why the current cost of living crisis is a health crisis and the health impact of growing inequalities across Wales.

The report found:

•            60% of people in Wales say the rising cost-of-living has had a negative impact on their wellbeing

•            Wales now has the worst child poverty rate of all the UK nations at 31%

•            Child poverty has increased in 20 of 22 local authorities over the past 5 years

•            One in ten Welsh households live in insecure housing

•            People in Wales face a higher risk of dying in poverty than any other UK nation

RCPCH Officer for Wales, Dr David Tuthill said:

“The Mind the Gap report shows clearly the impact that poverty has on children’s health and the extent to which social and economic inequalities result in huge inequalities in terms of health outcomes.

“As paediatricians, we see this impact on the lives of the children and young people we care for, from obesity rates to mental health, from chronic disease to tooth decay. Even child mortality. We know the impact this will have on them in the here-and-now and as they grow up to be adults.

“Given all of this, we urge the Welsh Government to carefully read today’s report and to take action. In particular we need to see a revised strategy to reduce child poverty with national targets, clear accountability across Government and specific actions to reduce child health inequalities.”