Government called on to initiate plans to cut health inequalities

Government minister for public health and prevention, Andrew Gwynne MP, is being urged by health inequality experts to update leaders on plans for a new mission delivery board (MDB) for health.

The Inequalities in Health Alliance (IHA), which is spearheaded by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), says that narrowing the “avoidable differences” in health must be a priority for the new government – especially if it intends to deliver on its commitment to halve the gap in life expectancy and reduce demand on the NHS.

Scope and structure

The IHA – which represents 257 organisations – specifically wants more information on the scope and structure of the MDB. It is expected that prime minister Keir Starmer will chair the board, in turn bringing together all the government departments with influence over the social determinants of health. These include:

• Housing
• Education
• Employment
• Racism
• Transport
• Air quality
• Food
• Smoking

Acting president at the RCP, Dr Mumtaz Patel, said: “Everything from the food we eat to the air we breathe impacts our health. At a time when the NHS is under unprecedented pressure, it is crucial that we address the underlying issues impacting the nation’s health.

“Health inequalities are not just a health issue; they are a matter of social justice and economic necessity. A comprehensive cross-government strategy to reduce health inequalities can help everyone, regardless of their background, to have the opportunity to lead healthy and productive lives.”

A long time coming?

The IHA has long been calling on officials to enact a cross-government strategy to reduce health inequalities – the coalition was established in October 2020 when it wrote to then-prime minister Boris Johnson on behalf of an initial 80 organisations. Now the coalition includes everyone from the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and the NHS Confederation to Barnardo’s and the British Red Cross.

This latest letter emphasises that, with boosting the economy a key plan for the new government, reducing health inequalities is vital in delivering this. The IHA highlights how, between February and April 2024, more than 2.8 million people were out of work with long-term sickness, which is the highest figure since records began in 1993. For 2022, the total estimated cost of inequality hampered the British economy by £106.2bn.

Furthermore, polling from the RCP in spring indicated that over half (55%) of consultant physicians had seen more patients with ill health over the previous three months due to social and economic factors. Around a quarter (24%) said that around half of their workload is dealing with illnesses related to the social determinants of health.

The IHA concluded in the letter: “We would value a meeting to discuss the government’s prevention-based approach to health and healthcare and better understand the work of the health MDB. With a diverse range of experience and expertise, we are confident that the IHA can work collaboratively with you on our shared goals  to reduce inequalities in health and healthcare.”

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