Medical professionals join call to extend Free School Meals

Medical professionals have grouped together to write a letter to the government, calling for a major expansion of free school meals to combat the growing risk of malnutrition, obesity and other health conditions affecting children in low-income families hit by the cost of living crisis.

Signatories of the letter include Professor David Strain from the British Medical Association and Pat Cullen from the Royal College of Nursing.

They said NHS professionals were seeing the impact of hunger and poor nutrition in their work every day. The letter said: "Every day, healthcare professionals see the impact of hunger and malnutrition in their work. We believe all children in England should be guaranteed access to the food they need to live healthy lives.

"We urge the UK Government to act now to protect the health of the nation’s children by expanding the Free School Meals scheme to all children in desperate need to guarantee them a hot, nutritious meal at school, for their health, the economy and the NHS."

The letter says that good nutrition in childhood is essential for this critical period of rapid growth and development. It lies at the heart of health and wellbeing for children and young people.