Health study reveals ‘nation of two halves’

Oldham is among the worst towns in the country for hospital admissions by under-fives and childhood development at reception class stage.

There are also huge gaps in levels of obesity, tooth decay, injury and early childhood development for under-fives across the North-West.

The Poor Beginnings report by the National Children’s Bureau, looked at important indicators of health and development in early childhood and reveals major variations. A five year old in Manchester is over 60 per cent more likely to be obese and over 75 per cent more likely to be suffering tooth decay, than one in wealthier Trafford only 10 miles away.

Anna Feuchtwang, chief executive of the National Children’s Bureau, said: “It is shocking that two children growing up in neighbouring areas can expect such a wildly different quality of health.

“The link between poverty and poor health is not inevitable. Work is urgently needed to understand how local health services can lessen the impact of living in a deprived area.”

The full report can be viewed online at www.ncb.org.uk/poorbeginnings.