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“We support the RCPCH’s call for a more robust approach to child health and to have a better and much improved long-term child health strategy.

“Councils have long-warned that unless more decisive action is taken, both individually and through targeted initiatives, the potential consequences of the impact on children’s health later in life could be devastating.

“Evidence shows that intervening in the first 1,000 days of a child’s life can make a difference across their lifetime. But with council’s public health grant funding being cut by £531 million between 2015/16 and 2019/2020 and councils facing a £2 billion funding gap to children’s services by 2020, it is making that task harder.

“The report highlights that there are still no national plans to ban junk food advertising. The LGA has long called for fundamental reforms to tackle childhood obesity, such as for councils to be given a say in how and where the soft drinks levy is spent, better labelling on food and drink products, and for councils to be given powers to ban junk food advertising near schools.

“Public health services play a vital role in improving the health of children, young people and adults, reducing the need for treatment later down the line and easing the pressure on the NHS. 

“Unless this is properly funded, it will put services at risk which are vital in supporting the health and development of babies, children and families.”

Report:  Fragmented approach to child health damaging long term health of nation warns Royal College