1,200 doctors write an open letter to Boris Johnson to reverse cruel school dinners

Doctors have written an open letter to Boris Johnson demanding that he adopt a U-turn policy and provide free meals during school holidays.

More than 1,000 have put their names after the Tories ignited fury by voting against English footballer Marcus Rashford’s school dinner plan.

They felt “compelled to act” after seeing the heartbreaking impact of hunger on the poorest children during breaks.

The letter, signed by 1,200 registered doctors, says that while politicians in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are helping to provide meals during the school holidays, the rejection of the proposal in England means that “more than a million children will pass hungry”.

It came to light the day that the British Medical Association also demanded that the Prime Minister reverse the “shameful” decision.

The letter reads: “We see the effects of poverty on individual children … the health impacts of not eating enough … children who cannot concentrate in school. We see the effects of malnutrition … the impact on the mental health of these children and their families ”.

He continues: “We cannot stand by and see that our patients are in danger in this way.”

The move comes amid hopes the government is on the brink of another sea change after the 22-year-old Manchester United star inspired a national effort to provide meals to hungry children in the medium term.

Businesses, including food outlets, have embarrassed the government by pledging to help the roughly 200,000 children in need.

Dr Julia Patterson, executive director of EveryDoctor who organized the letter, said: “About 30% of all children in the UK live in poverty.

“These children have names and faces. They are our patients. Covid-19 has brought many people to the brink: they have lost their jobs, separated from their family, and are struggling to make a living.

“The government needs to step up and support the communities, support every child in Britain. UK doctors feel compelled to speak up because lack of food has health consequences. Hunger kills. No child deserves to go hungry or go hungry.

“We will not stop campaigning until the situation changes.”

Reports suggest that more than 100 Conservative MPs could vote against the policy in the Commons if the Labor Party initiates another vote on the issue.

A Co Durham GP said: “Our village food bank has seen a one-third increase in visitor numbers. I have dealt with people who tell me they lost their jobs and cannot afford food or rent.

“Patients told me that they were happy that the children were going back to school because it eased the financial pressures.”

The British Medical Association, the registered union of doctors, separately demanded a revocation of the policy by No.10.

Board President Professor Dame Parveen Kumar said: “The shameful refusal to extend the school meal plan will directly affect the most disadvantaged children.

“With the half term as of today, it is impossible to believe that so many are having to try to persuade the government to reverse this decision.

“A free school meal is the main source of daily nutrition for many children and can have a huge impact on their health.

“The Covid pandemic has brought even more difficulties to many families.

“In addition to providing a meal to children whose families cannot afford it otherwise, extending the plan may be the only access that some have to a nutritious and healthy meal instead of harmful and unhealthy foods during school holidays.

“The government must reverse its decision immediately, as it knows very well that many children can go hungry and malnourished as a result.”

Yesterday, companies, city councils and community groups provided thousands of free meals to children during the first day of the semester.

Here is the full letter

Dear Boris Johnson,

As UK physicians, we are appalled by the outcome of the free school meals motion in parliament this week and are forced to act.

The Scottish government has decided to make £ 10 million available to pay for school meals during the school holidays. The Welsh government will extend the provision of school meals during the holidays until Easter 2021. The Northern Ireland executive has decided to provide £ 1.3 million for school meals for the fortnight starting 19 October.

But UK MPs have voted to reject a proposal for free school meals in England during the holidays, and as a result more than a million children will go hungry.

About 30% of all children in the UK live in poverty.

1.3 million children in England applied for school meals in 2019.

The Food Foundation estimates that another 900,000 children in England may have sought free school meals since the start of the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has had far-reaching consequences. Poverty is worsening in the UK and poverty has huge impacts on health.

These are the statistics of the country; these are the numbers on the spreadsheets. But as UK doctors we see the effects of poverty on UK children. We see the health impacts of not eating enough. We see children who cannot concentrate in school. We see the effects of malnutrition. We see the impact on the mental health of these children and their families.

Each number on those worksheets represents a child.

Each child is one of our patients.

We are responsible for these children and ask that free school meals be provided during school holidays for all children in need.

We are morally and ethically bound to speak like doctors.

We cannot stand by and see that our patients are in danger in this way.

We call for the government to revisit this motion for Free School Meals. We will not stop until this situation is properly addressed.

Yours,

Dr. Julia Patterson, Founder and CEO of EveryDoctor, and endorsed by UK physicians