More evidence has emerged of the UK falling behind other Western countries over its record on childhood deaths.
The new findings show that since 1970, child and youth death rates in the UK have fallen significantly more slowly in the UK than in 17 other nations in the European Union, Australia, Canada and Norway (EU15+).
Although young people aged 10 to 24 had an average likelihood of death comparable with that of the other countries, this masked poor progress in tackling deaths from non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Britain's record for infants younger than a year old, and children aged one to nine was said to be especially poor. By 2008, an estimated 1,035 more infant deaths occurred each year in the UK than in the group of nations as a whole.
Worsening NCD trends had cancelled out the benefits of the UK's good record for injury-related deaths, the researchers said.
Lead researcher Professor Russell Viner, from University College London's Institute of Child Health, said: "Fewer children survive and thrive in countries with wide inequalities, such as the UK.
"We urgently need to understand more about the role that is played in causing the mortality excess by social factors, such as higher inequality in Britain than most of Europe, and by differences in our healthcare system to that in many European countries."
NCDs were responsible for around three-quarters of UK deaths of children aged one to nine, and half of all deaths of young people aged 10 to 24.
The study was reported in The Lancet medical journal, which a week ago published other findings showing that children were more likely to die by the age of five in the UK than anywhere else in western Europe except Malta.
Britain's under-five mortality rate was 4.9 deaths per 1,000 births, more than double that of Iceland.
I find this appalling and is certainly at odds with how politicians and the media portray Britain's ability to care for it's citizens.
It will be interesting to see whether or not this receives the same amount of media coverage for action to be taken as overseas needs receive in the news.
Health Minister Dr Dan Poulter said '[blah blah blah] but more needs to be done' - I think if I hear one more politician say that about serious failings in Britain, I shall probably scream. Politicians: stop saying 'more needs to be done' and get on and do it.
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/concern-over-uk-child-death-rates-230355396.html#5W495uE
What was your favourite board game as a child?
