“In one of the richest countries in the world, it is shocking and unacceptable that inequalities in health are widening. Today’s report makes it clear: for the poorest in our society, life is getting shorter.
“Life expectancy has steadily increased for the majority of the population over the last decade, but these gains cannot be fully celebrated if they are not shared by all. And today’s report shows that people living in more deprived areas are not only set to live shorter lives, but will spend more of those years in ill-health.
“The government’s promise of ‘levelling up’ will ring hollow without urgent and meaningful action to extend healthy life expectancies for all. This means a much stronger focus on prevention, and on the wider factors that affect our health.
“We know that today, millions are living in homes that pose a hazard to their health or safety, and some types of work can have a damaging impact on health. Our work, our homes and the communities where we live are central to living well at all ages. We must address the multiple disadvantages that impact both how long we live and whether we remain healthy into old age.”
