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Child health inequalities and poverty

The influence of poverty on children’s health and wellbeing is undeniable. With insight from paediatricians, children and young people, we outline our position on health inequalities to Government, and provide paediatricians with tools to make a difference.
Document

Child health inequalities driven by child poverty in the UK - our position

RCPCH believes that health must be a core consideration in any mission to tackle child poverty and improve outcomes for children and young people.

Read our position statement (updated August 2024)

Our toolkit - watch the introduction, then click on the links below

Understand how child poverty is defined in the UK context, including evidence of how it drives health inequalities and affects child health outcomes.
Improve your understanding

Many paediatricians may find it difficult to raise questions about poverty with families. We give some tips to make this subject more approachable.
Develop skills

Quality improvement (QI) can be used to improve NHS services that aim to reduce child health inequalities. Collaboration is key, and we outline factors to consider.
Prepare QI project

Prevention is better than cure, and inequalities cannot improve without repairing the inherent problems in society. We offer key principles, plus the data to support your case.
Advocate for change

Almost 1,100 members signed our letters to political leaders across the UK last autumn, and over 100 of you wrote to MPs across the UK calling on them to intervene in Parliament.
Find out more and take action

Reducing child health inequalities is a priority for health services in all four nations. We provide a template letter, to which you can add your unique perspective, to help shape better care and outcomes locally.
Influence local children's services
Headphones

Podcasts - talking with teams making a real difference

In our first episode, Dr Ian Sinha and Dr Alice Lee discuss why paediatricians have a role in addressing inequalities - and how to open up conversations with families.

Next, we hear from teams doing innovative work in quality improvement to better understand the impact of poverty and design NHS services with targeted support.

Podcast - on talking with families
Podcast - interviews with two QI projects

"Everyone deserves the world"

RCPCH &Us asked 500 children and young people across the UK what helps them to stay healthy, happy and well. And to think about why some might have things going on that stops this from happening...

Download letter
Medical case

Case studies

Our case studies demonstrate how teams are addressing child health inequalities in their local areas. Get inspired by these best practice examples as you develop your own projects.  

Case studies
Children and parent

Child health inequalities and climate change

Climate change poses an existential threat, but it is not experienced equally. Our toolkit, published October 2023, supports paediatricians to take action locally, regionally and nationally on this issue.
Toolkit and position on health inequalities and climate change

News and blogs on health inequalities

All news
view of Edinburgh Scotland
Media response
7 May 2025

RCPCH respond to the Scottish Programme for Government

The programme set out the Scottish Government’s intention to cut NHS waiting times, raise more children out of poverty, improve access to GP appointments, grow the economy and tackle climate change.