According to the ‘Healthy Equity in England’ report, which was commissioned by the Health Foundation, health inequalities have widened, and the nation’s health has deteriorated overall.
Sir Michael said it was ‘highly likely' that austerity was responsible ‘for life expectancy flat-lining, people’s health deteriorating and the widening of health inequalities’.
There has also been an increase in the North/South health gap, with the largest fall in life expectancy in the most deprived 10 per cent of neighbourhoods in the North East, and the largest increases in life expectancy in the least deprived 10 per cent of neighbourhoods in London.
The 10-years on review calls for the prime minister to take action. Referring to the Government’s pledge to ‘level up’, the report says that the goal should be to bring the level of deprived areas in the North up to the good health of those living in London and the South.
It also calls for child poverty – currently running at 22 per cent – to be brought down to 10 per cent, in line with the lowest in Europe.
The report finds that the more deprived an area the shorter the life expectancy, with women in the most deprived 10 per cent of areas most affected, with a fall in life expectancy between 2010-12 and 2016-18. There are also marked regional differences in life expectancy, particularly among people living in deprived areas.
There has also been a rise in death rates among people aged between 45-49 - so-called 'deaths of despair linked to suicide, drug and alcohol abuse, says the report, and seen in the United States.
The review highlights that while it is important that the health service is funded and functions well, our health is closely linked to where we are born, grow up, live and work, which means that large funding cuts under austerity have had an adverse effect.
Author of the report Professor Sir Michael Marmot, director of the UCL Institute of Health Equity, said, ‘This damage to the nation’s health need not have happened. It is shocking. The UK has been seen as a world leader in identifying and addressing health inequalities but something dramatic is happening. This report is concerned with England, but in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland the damage to health and well-being is similarly unprecedented.
‘Austerity has taken a significant toll on equity and health and it is likely to continue to do so…if you ask me if that is the reason for the worsening health picture I’d say it is highly likely that is responsible for the life expectancy flat-lining, people’s health deteriorating and the widening of health inequalities.
‘Poverty has a grip on our nation’s health - it limits the options families have available to live a healthy life. Government health policies that focus on individual behaviours are not effective. Something has gone badly wrong. We will be monitoring and reporting on inequalities in health and expect the Government to listen.’
Other factors highlighted that have had an adverse effect on the nation’s health are:
- Deprived areas and areas outside London and the South East have experienced larger cuts
- Child poverty has increased by 22 per cent, compared to Europe’s lowest of 10 per cent in Norway, Iceland and the Netherlands
- Children’s centres and youth centres have closed
- Education funding is down – educational attainment is closely linked with long-term health and well-being
- School exclusions have risen by 40 per cent
- Violent crime has risen
- A housing crisis and rise in homelessness
- A rise in food banks and in-work poverty
- More ‘ignored’ communities with poor conditions and no hope
Dr Jennifer Dixon, chief executive of the Health Foundation, said, ‘To “level up” the country as the Government aims, it must take action to level up the health and well-being of the population.
'Having secured new support from voters in “red wall” areas, there is a real opportunity for the Government to show more leadership to narrow the health gap. Existing efforts are welcome but fragmented and under-powered.
‘We urgently need a new national health inequalities strategy, backed by investment in the factors that have the most powerful impact on health such as early years and youth services, housing, education, social security and good quality work. Support for local government and business to help will be a crucial part of a successful strategy. So will demonstrable targets to focus energy and initiative.
‘As Sir Michael notes “if health has stopped improving it is a sign that society has stopped improving”. What is Government for if not to act on that?’
Action for Children’s director of policy and campaigns, Imran Hussain, said, ‘This landmark report delivers a devastating judgement on a decade of crippling cuts to lifeline services like Sure Start and benefits for families fighting to keep their heads above water.
‘While politicians hail the end of austerity, every day at Action for Children our frontline services tell us child poverty levels are at the worst they can remember with parents coming to us desperate for help to keep their families warm and well fed.
‘It’s long past time for the Government to deliver ambitious policies to tackle child poverty and restore the real value of children’s benefits to what they were before they were cut – as well as bring in a National Childhood Strategy to give all vulnerable children a safe and happy childhood.’
Health secretary, Matt Hancock, said, ‘I thank Professor Sir Michael Marmot for his dedicated work to shine a light on this vital issue. His findings show just how important this agenda is, and renew my determination to level up health life expectancy across our country. After all, levelling up health is the most important levelling up of all.
‘There is still much more to do, and our bold prevention agenda, record £33.9bn a year investment in the NHS, and world-leading plans to improve children’s health will help ensure every person can lead a long and healthy life.’