Health policy

Document

State of Child Health 2026: Child mortality

This indicator examines child mortality rates across the UK, measured as the age-standardised rate of death from all causes among children and young people aged 1–17 years per 100,000 population.

Health policy

Public health

Document

State of Child Health 2026: Substance misuse

This indicator analyses trends in drug and alcohol use among young people. However, there are current limitations to this indicator, as there is no shared, standardised measure of substance misuse prevalence across the nations.

Health policy

Alcohol

Document

State of Child Health 2026: Infant mortality

Infant mortality is defined as the death of a child under the age of one year and is measured as deaths per 1,000 live births. This includes the neonatal (first 28 days) and post-neonatal (28 days to 1 year) periods.

Child and adolescent mortality

Health policy

Infant health

News

�鶹��ý responds to National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation

30 June 2026

On Wednesday 30 June, Baroness Amos published her published her Final Reports and Recommendations as Chair of the independent National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation.

News

�鶹��ý responds to Children's Commissioner (England) mental health report

30 June 2026

On Monday 29 June, the Children's Commissioner for England published her fifth annual report on children's mental health services.

News

�鶹��ý and BAPM response to Independent Review of Maternity Services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

25 June 2026

On 24 June 2026 the Ockenden report published the ‘findings, conclusions and essential actions to improve care and safety in maternity services across England’ following the independent review report of Maternity Services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.

News

Challenges and opportunities in the NHS – President’s update

18 June 2026

Steve explains how clinical leadership must be central in local and national decision-making across the NHS. He also updates on the Health Bill in England, the MenB vaccine for young people, our response to the forthcoming social media ban for children and our latest podcasts.

News

Health Bill: Shaping NHS reform for children, young people and the paediatric workforce

12 June 2026

Last week, MPs debated the UK Government’s new Health Bill, also known as the NHS Modernisation Bill. The proposed reforms represent a significant reshaping of how decisions are made, services are delivered, and patient voice is heard across the NHS.

News

�鶹��ý responds Lord Mann’s review into antisemitism and other forms of racism in the NHS

4 June 2026

On Thursday 4 July, Lord Mann published a government commissioned review into antisemitism and other forms racism in the NHS.

News

Influencing the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act: podcast

3 June 2026

How does the College use both paediatric and policy expertise to help shape legislation affecting children and young people? Professor Andrew Rowland, Officer for Child Protection (pictured), talks about our work with colleagues from �鶹��ý and NSPCC.