Labour promised to reduce health inequality – here’s how they can deliver

When Labour came into government, they did so on the promise of closing the health inequalities gap. Keir Starmer pledged to focus the NHS on prevention. Meanwhile, their manifesto promised to “raise the healthiest generation of children in our history” and to act on the social and economic causes of health inequalities.

These ambitions reflect a key truth: good health is not just about hospitals. It is shaped by the air we breathe, the food we eat, our income and our housing. In the communities we work in across South London, health outcomes vary profoundly from street to street. Where you live shapes how long you live, and how well.

That’s why I welcome commitments in the recent 10 Year Health Plan for England. Alongside urgent NHS reforms the plan spotlights the need for radical action on the economic and social drivers of health. The challenge now is to build on that recognition, with the ambitious policies that we know work to create healthier and more equitable places.

At Impact on Urban Health, we work with partners to address the systems that shape health in urban areas. From debt advice in GP surgeries to air pollution, we have seen where progress is being made, and where more urgent action is needed.

Children’s health and food: Encouraging signs but action must follow

Health and food are undeniably linked to inequality. Consider that 44% of junk food ads are in the lowest income areas, compared to 4% in the wealthiest.

Here the government has moved quickly. A landmark commitment to extend free school meals can help ensure more children get the healthy food they need to learn. Plans to require large food companies to report on the healthiness of their sales will incentivise nutritious, affordable food options.

These are vital steps toward healthier environments. But after years of U-turns on food policy, it is essential these commitments are implemented quickly and embed health at their core.

For example, extending free school meals is fantastic, but true health benefits will come from simultaneously raising school food standards and introducing auto-enrolment, ensuring all eligible children benefit, and meals provide the nutrition our children need to thrive.

Read more:

• UK is ‘failing’ children as death rates rise, poverty surges and health declines at ‘alarming’ rate
• Will fixing the NHS be enough to save Starmer’s government? Maybe. But only on one condition
• The NHS is facing an existential crisis. Can Labour’s 10-year plan really save it?

Children’s mental health: We need an ambitious child poverty strategy

I welcome the government’s focus on early intervention and community-based support. But millions of children in the UK still live in poverty. When families are forced to live in unsuitable housing, every aspect of a child’s life is affected. Poor sleep leaves children exhausted. A lack of space makes it harder to concentrate and regulate emotions. Stress builds, affecting mental health.

A robust child poverty strategy, backed by investment in the early years of a child’s life and the abolition of the two-child benefit limit, is essential to increase the number of children reaching a good level of development by age five.

Health and wealth: Time for delivery

Financial security and stability are important drivers of good health, and inequalities in health and wealth are stark in urban areas. Energy debt alone has more than doubled in three years, reaching £3.8 billion, leaving people cutting back on food and heating.

That’s why I’m pleased to see the government acknowledge the need for debt advice in community health settings. Innovative projects like Financial Shield, led by Centre for Responsible Credit and which we support, have significantly improved the physical, mental, and financial health of residents across Lambeth and Southwark.

It’s brilliant to see recognition of the importance of co-locating money and health services locally, and I look forward to seeing how this will work in practice.

Air pollution: A test of political will

Every year, air pollution causes up to 43,000 premature deaths in the UK, and impacts cost £27bn. I’m pleased to see commitments to cross-departmental collaboration to improve air quality, as well as the upcoming consultation on wood burning.

But existing legislation is not doing enough to protect our health. That’s why the government must enshrine the right to breathe clean air in law and set legally binding targets aligned with the World Health Organization’s 2021 guidelines. One way of doing this is by passing Ella’s Law, which was recently reintroduced to parliament.

After summer recess

The early signals from the government are encouraging. But when ministers return from summer recess, they must match ambition with funding, legislate where needed, and work with community groups to prioritise health. To fulfil a promise of building the healthiest generation ever, there is much more to do.

Mark Heffernan is interim director of policy, influencing and change at Impact on Urban Health.

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