Levelling Up Health
9 April 2021
The APPG for Longevity published its report, Levelling up Health, on 9 April 2021, a little over a year following the publication of The Health of the Nation. Our society has one of the best opportunities for decades to improve the health of our country after the Covid-19 pandemic. The Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Health support this, with a Manifesto commitment to do so and the new Office for Health Promotion to be led by the CMO, Chris Whitty will drive this agenda across government. Yet to improve the health of the country will require key players outside government, in the NHS, local government, charities, and business to own the goal too, and to work with government to maximise progress. This is where the APPG for Longevity may have most to offer.
“Thank you for your work on this excellent and timely report...the timing of this couldn’t be better. I welcome the framing and the approach taken in this report, it is exactly the right one. I also agree with the five priorities you have chosen. We want to level up life, and you can only level up life by levelling up life expectancy. And for me, improving the disparities in healthy life expectancy is absolutely at the core of our levelling up agenda”
“It is a fantastic report - a real breath of fresh air... it begins to challenge fundamental misconceptions among decision-makers and the general public about why our food system is making us sick...”
“I think this is an excellent report....a very strong emphasis on place..... we must really be looking in the places where problems are greatest.”
“Levelling up Health is essential – places with the worst health had Covid death rates five times higher than others. This excellent report sets out what we all must do. It will need support across society and from all political parties. Labour will challenge government to make this a priority and to do what it takes”
What the Community is saying about Levelling Up Health:
‘Just read this report – absolutely brilliant. Straight to the point. Evidenced. A call to action.’ Max Jones, Managing Partner, Agilisys
‘ The event was extremely informative and gave a great deal of confidence to us as a charity. We feel assured that significant consideration will be given to the voluntary sector and the part it can play in the delivery of preventative support and services. Congratulations on the report.’ Melanie Wicklen, Chief Executive, Age UK Cambridgeshire
The APPG for Longevity was delighted that Rt Hon Matt Hancock MP, Secretary of State for Health and Care, Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer, and Henry Dimbleby, leading National Food Strategy, spoke in support of the launch of Levelling Up Health.
Covid-19 has had a devastating impact on our country, exposing our nation’s poor health and our health inequalities - 90% of those who died with Covid had significant prior poor health. A new healthcare system is essential to confront how unhealthy we are. The report sets out why this is needed and what should be done. It proposes a 10 Year Health Improvement Plan, and new Health Improvement Fund, a shift in political attitudes that have impeded progress, clear priorities for action and the need to challenge and change organisations that harm our children and our health.
All of society and all parties must seize the moment to improve our health, we show how.
