Health Service Focus

29.11.19

Housing, transport and education policy can secure future health of young people

Source: NHE Nov/Dec

 

Jo Bibby, director of health - The Health Foundation.

The future health of young people is our nation’s greatest asset. This premise has been the driving force behind our young people’s future health inquiry. We have spent two years seeking to uncover whether those growing up across the UK have what they need to build a healthy future, namely secure and rewarding work, a place to call home and the support of family, friends and the community.

The inquiry has underlined the biological impact that prolonged exposure to stress can have, leading to physiological wear and tear on our bodies and making us more susceptible to early and avoidable illness. We’ve heard first-hand from young people about the challenges they are facing when transitioning into adulthood, whether that’s the problems facing young people in the private rental sector or transport policy in their local area holding them back from accessing the education or work they need to thrive.

These areas of a young person’s life are not often associated with creating the opportunity for a healthy life and are approached by policymakers in isolation. This is why, for the final phase of the inquiry, we set out to develop policy recommendations in partnership with experts from across housing, employment, mental health and transport among others. Whilst we have worked to develop policy recommendations unique to each sector, what is apparent across all is that there is a lack of appropriate advice and guidance available to young people ranging from support in deciding their employment pathways to knowing their rights in a changing rental market. Getting this support right is vital to giving young people the chance of a healthy life.

As a starting point for addressing some of the biggest challenges that the inquiry identified we are prioritising housing, education and transport. A recent study found that private renters had a higher level of inflammatory C-reactive protein (CRP) – a measure of chronic stress response linked to long term health and an overhaul of the private rental sector would address this. We are also supporting calls for a Government review of the impact schools are having on mental health, with Young Minds recently reporting that 90% of school leaders have seen an increase in the number of students experiencing anxiety or stress. Transport has been identified in various studies as a barrier to work and therefore is a barrier to good health, we must provide all young people seeking employment with affordable transport options.

Whilst these can be viewed as wider societal issues, they all eventually have consequences for people’s health. Which is why we need a whole Government approach that not only considers the impact of how social policies are developed on people’s long-term health but one that also recognises that these societal issues need to be firmly part of health policy.

Our inquiry has found that young people are at the sharp end of siloed decision making by Government and as a result, their long-term health is being put at risk. It is time that Government recognise that today’s young people are tomorrow’s nurses, engineers, entrepreneurs and parents. Our future depends on them, and it is vital they are able to build the foundations needs for a healthy life.

Comments

There are no comments. Why not be the first?

Add your comment

national health executive tv

more videos >

latest healthcare news

NHS England commits £30m to join up HR and staff rostering systems

09/09/2020NHS England commits £30m to join up HR and staff rostering systems

As NHS England looks to support new ways of working, it has launched a £30m contract tender for HR and staff rostering systems, seeking sup... more >
Gender equality in NHS leadership requires further progress

09/09/2020Gender equality in NHS leadership requires further progress

New research carried out by the University of Exeter, on behalf of NHS Confederation, has shown that more progress is still needed to achieve gen... more >
NHS Trust set for big savings in shift to digital patient letters

09/09/2020NHS Trust set for big savings in shift to digital patient letters

Up and down the country, NHS trusts are finding new and innovative ways to leverage the power of digital technologies. In Bradford, paper appoint... more >

editor's comment

26/06/2020Adapting and Innovating

Matt Roberts, National Health Executive Editorial Lead. NHE May/June 2020 Edition We’ve been through so much as a health sector and a society in recent months with coronavirus and nothing can take away from the loss and difficulties that we’ve faced but it vital we also don’t disregard the amazing efforts we’v... read more >

last word

Haseeb Ahmad: ‘We all have a role to play in getting innovations quicker’

Haseeb Ahmad: ‘We all have a role to play in getting innovations quicker’

Haseeb Ahmad, president of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), sits down with National Health Executive as part of our Last Word Q&A series. Would you talk us th... more > more last word articles >

the scalpel's daily blog

Covid-19 can signal a new deal with the public on health

28/08/2020Covid-19 can signal a new deal with the public on health

Danny Mortimer, Chief Executive, NHS Employers & Deputy Chief Executive, NHS Confederation The common enemy of coronavirus united the public side by side with the NHS in a way that many had not seen in their lifetimes and for others evoked war-time memories. It was an image of defiance personified by the unforgettable NHS fundraising efforts of Captain Sir Tom Moore, resonating in the supportive applause during the we... more >
read more blog posts from 'the scalpel' >

comment

NHS England dementia director prescribes rugby for mental health and dementia patients

23/09/2019NHS England dementia director prescribes rugby for mental health and dementia patients

Reason to celebrate as NHS says watching rugby can be good for your mental health and wellbeing. As the best rugby players in the world repr... more >
Peter Kyle MP: It’s time to say thank you this Public Service Day

21/06/2019Peter Kyle MP: It’s time to say thank you this Public Service Day

Taking time to say thank you is one of the hidden pillars of a society. Being on the receiving end of some “thanks” can make communit... more >
Nurses named as least-appreciated public sector workers

13/06/2019Nurses named as least-appreciated public sector workers

Nurses have been named as the most under-appreciated public sector professionals as new research reveals how shockingly under-vauled our NHS, edu... more >
Creating the Cardigan integrated care centre

10/06/2019Creating the Cardigan integrated care centre

Peter Skitt, county director and commissioner for Ceredigion Hywel Dda University Health Board, looks ahead to the new integrated care centre bei... more >
Helpforce to launch training programmes for NHS volunteers

10/06/2019Helpforce to launch training programmes for NHS volunteers

Kay Fawcett OBE, clinical advisor and education lead at Helpforce, and Lynn Twinn, talent development consultant, outline the new national traini... more >

interviews

Matt Hancock says GP recruitment is on the rise to support ‘bedrock of the NHS’

24/10/2019Matt Hancock says GP recruitment is on the rise to support ‘bedrock of the NHS’

Today, speaking at the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) annual conference, Matt Hancock highlighted what he believes to be the three... more >
NHS dreams come true for Teesside domestic

17/09/2019NHS dreams come true for Teesside domestic

Over 20 years ago, a Teesside hospital cleaner put down her mop and took steps towards her midwifery dreams. Lisa Payne has been delivering ... more >
How can winter pressures be dealt with? Introduce a National Social Care Service, RCP president suggests

24/10/2018How can winter pressures be dealt with? Introduce a National Social Care Service, RCP president suggests

A dedicated national social care service could be a potential solution to surging demand burdening acute health providers over the winter months,... more >
RCP president on new Liverpool college building: ‘This will be a hub for clinicians in the north’

24/10/2018RCP president on new Liverpool college building: ‘This will be a hub for clinicians in the north’

The president of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has told NHE that the college’s new headquarters based in Liverpool will become a hu... more >
Duncan Selbie: A step on the journey to population health

24/01/2018Duncan Selbie: A step on the journey to population health

The NHS plays a part in the country’s wellness – but it’s far from being all that matters. Duncan Selbie, chief executive of Pu... more >