Britain’s health is going backwards but government action can fix it

People across the UK are living fewer years in good health – and without coordinated action across government, the trend will continue to worsen. 

Recent analysis from the The Health Foundation compared healthy life expectancy during 2012–14 with 2022–24, and showed it is declining across close to 90% of areas of England, Wales and Scotland for both women and men (89% of areas for women and 86% of areas for men). Over the past decade, women’s healthy life expectancy has fallen by 4.4%, representing 2.8 fewer years lived in good health, and men’s by 3.5% – or 2.2 years.

The findings also highlight a widening health divide across the country, showing that where people live is increasingly determining how long they can expect to live in good health. 

Communities seeing the sharpest falls

Some communities are being hit far harder than others. 

In places like North East Lincolnshire and Stockton-on-Tees, people are now expected to spend several years less in good health than they would have a decade ago. Over the past ten years, healthy life expectancy has fallen by 5.7 years for men and more than 7.5 years for women in these areas – among the steepest declines anywhere in Britain. 

London tells a similar story of inequality. Boroughs including Haringey, Westminster and Enfield have all seen significant drops in healthy life expectancy for both men and women since 2012–14, despite sitting alongside neighbouring areas with very different outcomes. 

But the data also shows that decline is not inevitable. In Hammersmith & Fulham and Croydon, healthy life expectancy has improved for both men and women over the same period – indicating that when the building blocks of health improve, longer and healthier lives can too. 

Health shaped by the world around us

These figures reinforce a stark reality: health inequalities can’t be solved by the NHS alone. The scale of decline should also act as a wake-up call for government. 

Our health is shaped by the world around us – the quality of our housing, the air we breathe, the work we do, our access to transport, education, green space and the money in our pockets. Every area of government policy influences these factors, and in turn influences our health. 

That’s why we’re calling for a change in the law to make tackling health inequalities a legal duty for this and future governments. Alongside members from across our coalition, we’re urging ministers to strengthen the government’s Health Bill, currently making its way through Parliament, to ensure health inequalities are considered across all areas of policy and decision-making. 

Without coordinated action between – from housing and transport to environment and employment – we know that fragmented policymaking will continue to hold the country back. 

Paul McDonald, Director of Health Equals, commented:  

These figures not only lay bare a crisis that the government can’t ignore, but they also make the case for real change. Recent policy changes such as the Renters Rights Act show some progress, but if this Labour government is serious about improving healthy life expectancy, Parliament must treat health inequality with the same urgency it brings to other national crises. 

Meaningful change is possible and there are real opportunities now to do so. That’s why Health Equals is calling for a change in the law to drive coordinated action across government, with clear targets and accountability. 

The Health Bill already moving through Parliament presents a vital opportunity to ensure that health is at the heart of government decision-making – and that every policy, from housing to environment, education to employment, is designed to help people live longer, healthier lives.