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Priorities for the child public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic recovery in England
  1. Catherine Hefferon1,
  2. Catherine Taylor1,2,
  3. Davara Bennett3,
  4. Catherine Falconer4,
  5. Melisa Campbell5,
  6. Joanna G Williams6,7,
  7. Dave Schwartz8,
  8. Ruth Kipping7,
  9. David Taylor-Robinson2
  1. 1 Department of Public Health, Health Education England North West Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
  2. 2 Department of Public Health, Policy & Systems, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
  3. 3 Department of Public Health and Policy, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
  4. 4 Department of Public Health, Somerset County Council, Taunton, Somerset, UK
  5. 5 Department of Public Health, Liverpool City Council, Liverpool, UK
  6. 6 Public Health Department, Bristol City Council, Bristol, Bristol, UK
  7. 7 Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
  8. 8 Plymouth City Council, Plymouth, UK
  1. Correspondence to Catherine Taylor, Public Health, Health Education England North West Liverpool, Liverpool, UK; catherine.taylor35{at}nhs.net

Abstract

Child health is at risk from the unintended consequences of the COVID-19 response and will suffer further unless it is given proper consideration. The pandemic can be conceived as a systemic shock to the wider determinants of child health, with impacts on family functioning and income, access to healthcare and education. This article outlines COVID-19 impacts on children in England. Key priorities relate to the diversion of healthcare during lockdown; interruption and return to schooling; increased health risks and long-term impacts on child poverty and social inequalities. We provide an overview of mitigation strategies and policy recommendations aimed to assist both national and local professionals across child health, education, social care and related fields to inform the policy response.

  • adolescent health
  • epidemiology

Data availability statement

Data sharing is not applicable as no datasets generated and/or analysed for this study.

This article is made freely available for use in accordance with BMJ’s website terms and conditions for the duration of the covid-19 pandemic or until otherwise determined by BMJ. You may use, download and print the article for any lawful, non-commercial purpose (including text and data mining) provided that all copyright notices and trade marks are retained.

https://bmj.com/coronavirus/usage

https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2020-320214

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    Data availability statement

    Data sharing is not applicable as no datasets generated and/or analysed for this study.

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    Footnotes

    • CH and CT are joint first authors.

    • RK and DT-R are joint last authors.

    • CH and CT contributed equally.

    • Contributors RK and DT-R conceptualised the study. CH, CT, CF, DB, MC, RK and DT-R conducted the literature review and edited the manuscript. All of the coauthors reviewed and agreed on the finalised version.

    • Funding DB, DT-R and RK are funded by the National Institute for Health Research School for Public Health Research. DT-R is funded by the MRC on a Clinician Scientist Fellowship (MR/P008577/1).

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.