A new report, published by the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) in partnership with the Mental Health Foundation, warns that childhood health inequalities will persist without a decisive shift from short-term, reactive measures to long-term, preventative approaches.
The findings reveal that children in Scotland’s most deprived areas – from Greenock town centre and Ferguslie in Paisley to Merkinch in Inverness and Linlathen in Dundee – are significantly more likely to experience poor health outcomes.
For example, they are ten times more likely to be exposed to tobacco smoke while in utero, they are twice as likely to be born with low birthweight and three times more likely to die within their first year.
Yet despite numerous strategies and frameworks, fragmented implementation, short political cycles, and limited resources continue to undermine progress, the report claims.
Among its recommendations are:
The findings reveal critical gaps in how research informs policy and how national strategies are implemented locally. Participants in the workshop called for improved, inclusive data collection that reflects children’s diverse experiences, and for policies to be co-designed with the communities they serve.
There is also a push for policies to be designed with communities, not just for them. Better data, inclusive research, and substantive local engagement were all highlighted as missing.
The report concludes that overcoming childhood health inequalities will require long-term investment, political courage, and a willingness to listen – especially to those whose voices are too often left out.