NCT welcomes the Audit Commission report Giving Children a Healthy Start

Released on 03/02/2010

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            NCT Press Statement

3 February 2010  

NCT welcomes the Audit Commission report Giving Children a Healthy Start

Background

A new Audit Commission report, Giving Children a Healthy Start, published today found health care for under-fives has not improved over the past decade. More than £10 billion has been spent on improving the health of under-fives in England since 1998. The findings show improvements in some aspects of young children’s health. There are fewer deaths in infancy and obesity rates show signs of slowing, but the gap between the health of children in disadvantage areas and those in better off places has grown. 

NCT is disturbed at continuing health inequalities in children when there is clear evidence about what needs to be done to make a real difference to the current and future health of families in the UK.   

Quote

Rosie Dodds, NCT Public Policy Officer, says,   “The NCT welcomes the report, Giving Children a Healthy Start, as it provides a much needed impetus to make children’s services more effective in reducing health inequalities.   

“NCT workers are involved in providing services through children’s centres in some local areas. Our feeling is that much more could be done to reach out and include vulnerable and marginalised families who are not keen to ‘attend’ and access these services for themselves. 

“We support the Audit Commission’s recommendation that local bodies should co-ordinate policies and targets so that there is a more coherent approach to funding and improving health for young children.”   

ENDS

For further press information contact Eulina Clairmont, NCT Press Office on 020 8752 2404 or email press@nct.org.uk  For out of hours, please call 07722 839 428.  The NCT has ISDN line on 020 8992 6499 – please call Press Office first to book. The NCT - the National Childbirth Trust - is the UK’s leading charity on pregnancy, birth and early parenthood – we’re with parents all the way from bump to baby. Each year the charity supports thousands of parents through a life-changing experience, offering expert information and trusted practical and emotional support through a network of 300 local branches, helplines, classes and breastfeeding counselling and we campaign for improvements to maternity care. For more information call NCT on 0300 330 0770 or visit www.nct.org.uk