Public health

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NHS 10 Year Health Plan

The UK Government released this plan on 3 July 2025, outlining long-term priorities for improving health outcomes in England. Over past months we've been making the case for children and the child health workforce - with members and with children and young people. We recognise the plan's potential a...

News

��ֱ�� to the Government's Prevention Green Paper

23 July 2019

Yesterday the Government published its eagerly awaited green paper on prevention, seeking views on its proposals to tackle the causes of preventable ill health in England. We know that primary prevention that begins before birth is crucial to the success of the NHS Long Term Plan, and so RCPCH welco...

News

Year 8 boys to be offered free HPV vaccine

9 July 2019

The move by Public Health England could prevent over 100,000 cancers. The RCPCH's Immunisation Expert responds.

News

Tougher baby food regulations needed to improve child health, say experts

27 June 2019

The measure forms part of a range of recommendations made by RCPCH as part of our ambitious “Prevention Vision”. The amount of free sugar in baby food should be reduced and the Government should place a “moratorium” on public health funding cuts, according to bold recommendations outlined today by l...

News

��ֱ�� to healthy school food move

13 June 2019

Prof Steve Turner welcomes Scottish Government's decision to change nutritional standards in schools to include more fruit and vegetables and less processed red meat and sugar.

Resource

Food advertising restrictions - consultation response

In 2019 we responded to the Government’s plans to place advertising restrictions on products high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS). We support a 21:00 watershed approach for both TV and online, ideally without any exemptions. We support the use of the Nutrient Profile Model to identify food and drinks ...

Health policy

Public health

Obesity

News

Cartoons on children's food packaging are “irresponsible” and “exploitative”

4 June 2019

A survey has found that cartoons are being used on food packaging to market products high in fat, sugar, and salt to children.

News

Hospital ban on sale of high-energy drinks to under-16s

26 May 2019

The sale of high-energy drinks to under-16s is being banned in hospital retail units. RCPCH's Officer for Scotland welcomes the move to "make NHS hospital sites healthier", but wants "similar measures put in place off NHS sites, to protect and improve child health across Scotland".

News

��ֱ�� to latest MMR vaccine data

24 May 2019

Professor Helen Bedford says "England has not escaped the recent increase in cases", and urges parents to vaccinate their children to protect them from "a nasty disease which could result in life changing complications or even death".

News

Government responds to Science and Tech Committee report on social media impact

23 May 2019

The RCPCH welcomes the Government's commitment to protect children online but, to inform future policy and public advice, says it must go further to ensure researchers have access to high quality data.