A recent study has highlighted that government policy regarding the health and wellbeing of children under five has not significantly improved in the past decade.
The Audit Commission report states that about £10 billion has been used to help improve the health of the youngsters in England since 1998. However, the results have proved disappointing.
There have nonetheless been some improvements in the last ten years, including a decline in the number of deaths and a slowing down of obesity rates.
Moreover, the report illustrated that the gap between the health of children in disadvantaged areas and those in better areas had increased. A child in a deprived area is 19 per cent more likely to have unhealthy teeth than the average child.
The authors of the report emphasise that by acting now and saving money in areas with reference to diabetes, children's health, hypertension and heart disease, the numbers developing such conditions could be reduced and NHS resources saved.
An improvement in the health of babies and young children is good to see, however, under-fives rarely appear to be a local priority.
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