Left in the lurch
Published
British families are finding it increasingly hard to access healthcare for their children, according to a new report from The Institute for Public Policy Research. The report found that parents are literally being left to ‘fend for themselves’ as the NHS struggles to cope.
A survey of over 1,500 parents revealed:
- One in three (32 per cent) never attended an antenatal class.
- One third (31 per cent) do not feel prepared to look after their children’s health.
- One in five (19 per cent) find it difficult to access professional help for their child’s health when they need it.
The least financially comfortable parents faced particular challenges, as the most well-off can buy their way to better outcomes, while the poorest face the greatest barriers to support.
The report says the dual crises of mental health and obesity issues among children have been allowed to flourish as parents have been left at the behest of patchy NHS services that are hard to access.
When parents do access care, many describe the experience as rushed or judgmental – leaving them feeling unsupported in navigating the realities of parenthood. As waiting times grow, families say they are increasingly turning to private care, DIY solutions or simply hoping problems resolve on their own.
The think tank recommends:
- Universal parenting education: before and for a year after birth, delivered on an opt-out basis.
- Government action to make healthy choices the easy choice: improving healthy food affordability, closing junk-food marketing loopholes.
- More proactive, easy-to-find community support: reaching parents early, connecting families with one another and offering practical help while they wait for specialist care.
Visit www.ippr.org
