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| Are children being failed in the UK? | Are children being failed in the UK? |
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| Children are being failed on a grand scale when it comes to their health and wellbeing - or so says a report by the British Medical Association. | Children are being failed on a grand scale when it comes to their health and wellbeing - or so says a report by the British Medical Association. |
| That may come as a surprise to many. | That may come as a surprise to many. |
| After all, death during childhood is rare and living standards are high. | After all, death during childhood is rare and living standards are high. |
| And with some of the most world-renowned children's hospitals in the world - Great Ormond Street and the Evelina in London and Liverpool's Alder Hey - the UK would seem to have much to boast about. | And with some of the most world-renowned children's hospitals in the world - Great Ormond Street and the Evelina in London and Liverpool's Alder Hey - the UK would seem to have much to boast about. |
| But that masks a number of underlying problems, says the BMA's report, Growing Up in the UK. | But that masks a number of underlying problems, says the BMA's report, Growing Up in the UK. |
| It highlights issues such as obesity and foetal alcohol syndrome (babies who are born with disabilities due to the mother's drinking habits) as public health problems that too little is being done about. | It highlights issues such as obesity and foetal alcohol syndrome (babies who are born with disabilities due to the mother's drinking habits) as public health problems that too little is being done about. |
| Even with the most common childhood diseases, such as asthma, it says, few children are getting the help they need to ensure their quality of life remains what it should be. | Even with the most common childhood diseases, such as asthma, it says, few children are getting the help they need to ensure their quality of life remains what it should be. |
| And while child mortality remains low, the UK still has 1,600 more deaths a year than other developed countries, partly because of a poor record when it comes to preventing accidents. | |
| Austerity | Austerity |
| The report, produced by the BMA's board of science, also points to research which shows one in 10 children are unhappy. | The report, produced by the BMA's board of science, also points to research which shows one in 10 children are unhappy. |
| Overall, the UK is ranked 16th in the United Nations league table of wellbeing - that is below the likes of Slovenia, Portugal and the Czech Republic. | Overall, the UK is ranked 16th in the United Nations league table of wellbeing - that is below the likes of Slovenia, Portugal and the Czech Republic. |
| The index takes into account factors such as health and safety, education and housing. | The index takes into account factors such as health and safety, education and housing. |
| What is more, the BMA report also warns the situation may get worse in the coming years. | What is more, the BMA report also warns the situation may get worse in the coming years. |
| It says the government's austerity programme could adversely affect the most vulnerable children, particularly through the cuts to welfare benefits and social care. | It says the government's austerity programme could adversely affect the most vulnerable children, particularly through the cuts to welfare benefits and social care. |
| Already, there are worrying signs. Last year the highest number of children ever recorded were referred to local authority care with the total number now looked after by the state topping 64,000. | Already, there are worrying signs. Last year the highest number of children ever recorded were referred to local authority care with the total number now looked after by the state topping 64,000. |
| So what can be done about it? | So what can be done about it? |
| The BMA believes intervention programmes hold the key, pointing to research which suggests for every £1 spent on programmes aimed at children and families £10 is saved in the long-term. | The BMA believes intervention programmes hold the key, pointing to research which suggests for every £1 spent on programmes aimed at children and families £10 is saved in the long-term. |
| The report mentions parenting classes, improving maternal nutrition and targeting children born in households with unhealthy habits, such as smoking, drug use and alcohol abuse. | The report mentions parenting classes, improving maternal nutrition and targeting children born in households with unhealthy habits, such as smoking, drug use and alcohol abuse. |
| It will now be up to ministers, the NHS and local government to absorb the findings of the 246-page report. | It will now be up to ministers, the NHS and local government to absorb the findings of the 246-page report. |
| But for Professor Sir Al Aynsley-Green, the former children's tsar for England, who has given his backing to the report, the message is clear. | But for Professor Sir Al Aynsley-Green, the former children's tsar for England, who has given his backing to the report, the message is clear. |
| "In 2013 we are currently experiencing the most challenging era for children, young people and their health for the last 30 years." | "In 2013 we are currently experiencing the most challenging era for children, young people and their health for the last 30 years." |