Consultation Response
Healthy Start Eligibility consultation response
We have responded to the Department for Health and Social Care consultation
The Women’s Budget Group has responded to the government’s consultation on Healthy Start Eligibility, highlighting the current exclusion of many vulnerable groups from accessing the essential nutritional support that Healthy Start provides. The current eligibility criteria restricts access to families with “no recourse to public funds” (NRPF), disproportionately affecting non-British children and pregnant women, who often live in poverty. We believe that Healthy Start should be extended to all financially eligible families, regardless of immigration status, to ensure no child is denied adequate nutrition.
Knowing how vital early childhood nutrition is for long-term health and wellbeing, not just of children but also of mothers and pregnant women, Healthy Start should be accessible for all children in the UK. Expanding eligibility could help address health inequalities and reduce future healthcare costs, but changes to the eligibility criteria need to take into account the complexity of the immigration system and ensure that changes and processes are communicated clearly and effectively so those who need support can access it. You can read our full submission following the link on this page.