Health disparities across the UK will be tackled through a new
approach to public health focused on stopping debilitating health
conditions before they develop, as the Office for Health
Improvement and Disparities (OHID) launches today (Friday 1
October).
OHID marks a distinct shift in focus at the heart of Government
in addressing the unacceptable health disparities that exist
across the country to help people live longer, healthier lives
and reduce the pressure on the health and care system as work is
done to reduce the backlog and put social care on a long-term
sustainable footing.
The latest figures show clear trends, based on geographical
location, of a person’s life expectancy and the years they can
expect to live a healthy life. For example:
- Men in the most deprived areas in England are expected to
live nearly 10 years fewer than those in the least deprived.
Women in the same areas can expect to live seven years fewer.
- Smoking is more prevalent in more deprived areas and one of
the leading causes of inequalities in life expectancy; an
international study found it accounts for half the difference in
mortality between the least and most deprived men aged 35-39.
- Obesity is widespread but more prevalent among the most
deprived areas; prevalence is almost 8% higher among those living
in the most deprived decile of local authorities (66.6%) compared
to those in the least deprived areas (58.8%).
OHID has been set up to change this - it will co-ordinate an
ambitious programme across central and local government, the NHS
and wider society, drawing on expert advice, analysis and
evidence, to drive improvements in the public’s health.
Preventing illness before it develops will help to reduce the
pressure on services, saving significant money and resource, and
ensuring our record investment in the health and social care
system goes as far as possible.
Health and Social Care Secretary,
said:
“The pandemic has laid bare the health disparities we face not
only as a country, but as communities and individuals.
“This must change and this body marks a new era of preventative
healthcare to help people live healthier, happier and longer
lives.
“The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities will be the
driving force across government, supported by communities,
academics, industry and employers, to level up the health of our
nation, which will reduce the pressure on our NHS and care
services.”
The Health and Social Care Secretary has today written to
community leaders, charities, industry experts and key employers
to join the OHID’s mission to act on wider factors that affect
people’s health, such as work, housing and education.
With around 80% of a person’s long-term health dictated not by
the care they receive but by these wider factors, tackling the
problem will be a cross-government effort.
Chief Medical Officer, , will provide
professional leadership to OHID. New Deputy Chief Medical
Officer, Dr Jeanelle de Gruchy will advise government on clinical
and public health matters as the co-lead for OHID, alongside the
DHSC Director General for OHID, Jonathan Marron.
Chief Medical Officer, said:
“Health inequalities in England are stark and they are
challenging to address but it is important we do so.
“People across the country can live in better health for longer.
OHID will support people to do so with an evidence based
approach.
“Reducing health inequalities and keeping people in better health
for longer is in everyone’s interest – it is good for the
individual, families, society, the economy and NHS. That’s why
OHID will work collaboratively across the national, regional and
local levels as well as with the NHS, academia, the third sector,
scientists, researchers and industry.”
The biggest preventable killers, such as tobacco, obesity,
alcohol and recreational drugs, cost the taxpayer billions of
pounds each year to fund treatment and long-term care, as well as
putting bed capacity pressure on the health service.
To change course on these preventable issues, OHID will work with
the rest of Government, the NHS, local government and the wider
public health system and industry to improve detection and
prevention for people at risk of ill health, as well as applying
cutting edge science, technology, evidence and data to target
support where it is most needed.
The pandemic has demonstrated the vital importance of having a
strong public health system. As Public Health England is
replaced, the new UK Health Security Agency will have a
laser-like focus on health protection, while OHID will improve
health and tackle disparities in health outcomes across the
country. The Government will continue to work as a system and
with our partners in the NHS and Local Government to deliver.
