Child poverty at 'unbearable level', warns paediatrician

CHILD poverty is at “an unbearable level” in the UK, according to a paediatrician who spoke out on the one-year anniversary of the launch of a taskforce set up to tackle the problem.

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A snapshot survey of medical staff working on the front line suggested the number of child patients they see with poverty-related ill health has risen in the past two years, and the impact of such poverty has increased in severity, with issues including overcrowded or damp housing playing a part.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer pledged to “leave no stone unturned to give every child the very best start at life” when the ministerial taskforce was announced on July 17 last year to start work on a child poverty strategy.

The strategy had been due to be published in spring, but was delayed until autumn to align with the Chancellor's budget.