The key findings from the report show that the health and wellbeing of children in York is generally better than the England average and that children and young people under the age of 20 make up 21.7% of the city’s population.

The profiles help City of York Council to work in partnership to improve health in the local area. The profiles contain data on a wide range of issues about and affecting child health, from levels of childhood obesity, MMR immunisation rates, teenage pregnancy and underage drinking, to hospital admissions and levels of child poverty. Each profile provides two types of information: background demographic information about the children in each area; and comparative analysis with other local authorities across the country.

The data shows that in 2013 there were 2045 live births in York, which saw the number of children in the city aged between 0 and 4 remain at 10,700 and the number of children aged 0 to 19 increase to 44,000.  The findings project the number of children in York aged 0 to 19 by 2020 will be 44,900.

According to the child population section the life expectancy at birth of boys and girls in York is 79.4 and 83.5 respectively.   The regional figures for Yorkshire and Humber are 78.5 and 82.2 and nationally 79.4 and 83.1 putting York above the regional and national average.

The level of child poverty in York is better than the England average with 11.7% of children aged under 16 living in poverty, a fall of 1.4% since the last Child Health Profiles data was released.

City of York Council’s Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Health Councillor Carol Runciman said: “I am pleased that, generally, children and young people in York are healthy and doing well. However, where this is not the case we need to focus on supporting both their physical and mental health. We have just consulted on the plans for a new Healthy Child Service to be in place from April next year. We will be using the findings from this to make sure that we are targeting our resources so that all our children and young people have the very best start in life”.

City of York Council’s Acting Director of Health and Wellbeing Julie Hotchkiss said: “City of York Council welcomes these results and it is pleasing to see that York is fairing well compared to our neighbours and the UK generally.  It is pleasing to see that York’s children are healthy and well overall.

“The number of mothers who breastfeed their babies in York is of concern to me as it is lower than the England average.  However we are continuing to work with partners across the city to promote and sustain breastfeeding in York.  This work has seen breastfeeding support groups being established which saw 89% of mothers consulted feeling more confident breastfeeding in public.  This focus includes working towards UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative accreditation for the city by 2020.”