The Government is being urged to introduce a national health inequalities strategy to tackle England’s widening health inequality gap, in a new report by the Local Government Association.
The report is called “Building Fairer Towns, Cities, and Regions: Insights from Marmot Places”
It comes as councils across the country continue to lead the way in tackling health inequalities at a local level, with significant progress made in addressing the social determinants of health through the ‘Marmot Eight’ principles.
The report features innovative case studies from Marmot Places and underlines the need for national leadership to mirror and support local efforts. Grounded in addressing the social determinants of health such as housing, employment, and education, the Marmot approach has proven transformative.
With more than 50 local areas across England, Wales, and Scotland designated as Marmot Places, councils are already demonstrating how collaborative, community-focused initiatives can deliver meaningful change.
However, as this report highlights, the scale of health inequalities demands a concerted national effort.
It follows a number of previous studies which have warned of the widening health inequality gap:-
- Figures from the King’s Fund showed that in 2020-22, healthy life expectancy in the North East was almost seven years shorter for males and six years shorter for females compared with the South East. People living in northern regions also spend higher proportions of their shorter lives in poor health.
- Meanwhile a study published by the Health Foundation found that based on current trends, inequalities in health will persist over the next two decades, with people in the 10 per cent most deprived areas expected to be diagnosed with major illness a decade earlier than people in the 10 per cent least deprived areas.
- A report by the UCL Institute of Health Equity confirmed widening inequalities of life expectancy between regions in England and within local authorities since 2010. It warned widening inequalities were associated with an average reduction in local authority spending power of 34 per cent.
Cllr Louise Gittins, Chair of the LGA, said:
“The Marmot Places report is a powerful reminder of what local government and its partners can achieve when they commit to tackling health inequalities. Across the country, councils are working tirelessly to incorporate fairness into housing, employment, and public health initiatives, often in the face of significant challenges.
“But local action alone cannot close the widening health inequality gap. We urgently need a national health inequalities strategy that builds on the excellent progress councils have made. With national and local leadership working together, we can create a society where everyone, regardless of their background or postcode, has the opportunity to thrive.”
Professor Sir Michael Marmot, Director, UCL Institute of Health Equity said:
“Our review of health inequalities in 2010 laid out what needs to be done to promote health equity where people are born, grow, live, work and age. IHE analysis has shown that cuts to local authorities led to stalling of life expectancy, stopped health improving and widened inequalities across the UK.
“We are now working with more than 50 places across the country who are doing what they can, with diminished funding, to improve the lives for local people. We desperately need national action to accompany these truly inspirational local initiatives on the social determinants of health.”
Katherine Merrifield, Assistant Director of Healthy Lives at the Health Foundation, said:
“Good health is an asset to society. The health inequality described in our Health in Equalities 2040 report should not exist. The LGA's report is a vital reminder of the key role local authorities can play in tackling health inequalities in their local areas.
“However, councils need to be supported in this activity, including through a sustainable finance system that better links funding with need and more joined-up support from central government.
“Like the LGA, we believe that the Government’s health mission must focus on delivering health and health equity by addressing broader factors beyond just health care and social care that influence our health.”
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