CHILDREN in England have “some of the worst child health outcomes in Europe,” MPs warned today as they urged the government to take urgent action to reverse rising inequality and preventable harm.

The Commons health and social care committee said poor outcomes in the first 1,000 days of life, from conception to age two, were being driven by increasing obesity rates and uneven childhood vaccination coverage.

MPs said the government “must go further” on pledges around Family Hubs, where parents can access advice and support, to ensure provision in every community.

Ministers were also urged to “urgently rebuild the health visiting workforce,” which has fallen by 43 per cent since 2015, creating a shortfall of around 5,000 posts and leaving remaining staff with “dangerously high” caseloads.

The committee challenged the government to commit immediately to recruiting 1,000 additional health visitors, who are qualified nurses or midwives with specialist training in public health nursing.

It also called for the NHS target of ensuring 95 per cent of children receive routine immunisations to be reinstated, with MPs pressing ministers to commit to meeting the goal by July 2029.

Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health’s Dr Helen Stewart said: “Waiting times for children’s health services are eye-wateringly high, childhood vaccination rates are plummeting, parents are often struggling to find the right support and advice, and children are being failed.

“It is imperative that we reverse the decline in children’s health to safeguard our future.”

A government spokesperson said ministers were committed to improving early years health through prevention, family support and targeted vaccination programmes.