This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/may/02/uk-child-death-rate-western-europe-health
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| UK child death rate among worst in western Europe, say experts | UK child death rate among worst in western Europe, say experts |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The UK has one of the highest death rates in western Europe among children younger than five, according to an international study whose authors express surprise at the poor figures for a country with free universal healthcare. | The UK has one of the highest death rates in western Europe among children younger than five, according to an international study whose authors express surprise at the poor figures for a country with free universal healthcare. |
| Almost five children die for every 1,000 born, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation in Seattle has found. The UK's rate, at 4.9, is nearly double that of Iceland, the European country with the fewest child deaths, at 2.4 per 1,000 births. | |
| The UK has the second worst child death rate in western Europe after Malta, where there are seven deaths per 1,000 births. | The UK has the second worst child death rate in western Europe after Malta, where there are seven deaths per 1,000 births. |
| Child death rates are worse in central Europe, with 6.7 deaths per 1,000 births, and eastern Europe, with 9.7. The UK rate is similar to that in Serbia and Poland. | Child death rates are worse in central Europe, with 6.7 deaths per 1,000 births, and eastern Europe, with 9.7. The UK rate is similar to that in Serbia and Poland. |
| "We were surprised by these findings because the UK has made so many significant advances in public health over the years," said Dr Christopher Murray, the institute's director and the study's senior author. | "We were surprised by these findings because the UK has made so many significant advances in public health over the years," said Dr Christopher Murray, the institute's director and the study's senior author. |
| "The higher than expected child death rates in the UK are a reminder to all of us that, even as we are seeing child mortality decline worldwide, countries need to examine what they are doing to make sure more children grow into adulthood." | "The higher than expected child death rates in the UK are a reminder to all of us that, even as we are seeing child mortality decline worldwide, countries need to examine what they are doing to make sure more children grow into adulthood." |
| The figures are published online by the Lancet medical journal, whose editor, Dr Richard Horton, said politicians need to take child health more seriously. | The figures are published online by the Lancet medical journal, whose editor, Dr Richard Horton, said politicians need to take child health more seriously. |
| "These figures show the significant health burden that children bear in the UK compared with their European neighbours," he said. | "These figures show the significant health burden that children bear in the UK compared with their European neighbours," he said. |
| "The reasons for this are likely to be complex, but undoubtedly include the poor organisation of children's health services in the UK. | "The reasons for this are likely to be complex, but undoubtedly include the poor organisation of children's health services in the UK. |
| "Until our politicians begin to take the health of children – the health of the next generation of British citizens – more seriously, newborns and older children will continue to suffer and die needlessly." | "Until our politicians begin to take the health of children – the health of the next generation of British citizens – more seriously, newborns and older children will continue to suffer and die needlessly." |
| Death rates of children under five are high in the UK at almost every stage – in the first six days of life, between one month and one year old and between one year and four years old. | Death rates of children under five are high in the UK at almost every stage – in the first six days of life, between one month and one year old and between one year and four years old. |