New report makes for ‘sober reading’

Today, the Health Foundation have published a new report, Health inequalities in 2040, which looks at current and projected patterns of illness by deprivation in England.

The report, which makes for sober reading, is a stark reminder that without action, the UK’s health will continue to decline, placing increasing demand on our health and social care services and significantly affecting our productivity.

The more we can promote good health, the less likely people are to suffer from preventable illness and disease. Directors of Public Health work with a wide range of people and organisations to create communities where people can live healthier, happier, and more productive lives for longer, as well as to provide services that support that ambition.

However, our real-term funding has been consistently cut over the last decade leaving us to make impossible decisions. Without sustained investment, public health teams simply won’t be able to continue to effectively tackle the issues that determine our health like our living and working conditions or our access to affordable, healthy food.

As we have set out in our Manifesto for a Healthier Nation, and has been echoed in today’s report, there has to be a long-term, cross-government approach to addressing the underlying cases of ill-health. That will take bold joined-up thinking, but, if successful, will reap incredible rewards and set in motion a virtuous cycle of health, productivity, longevity, and wellbeing for generations to come.