“Levelling up” requires bolder policy response to tackle UK’s regional inequalities in health

New analysis of the UK Government’s “Levelling Up” white paper highlights gaps and missed opportunities to address health inequalities.

01 June 2022

Following publication of the UK Government’s “Levelling Up” white paper, a new analysis argues for a stronger policy response to address growing health inequalities across the UK.

The study, published in the BMJ, identifies opportunities, barriers and gaps in the white paper for tackling geographical health inequalities.

The analysis was led by researchers from SPECTRUM (Shaping public health policies to reduce inequalities and harm) and SIPHER (Systems science in public health and health economics research) – two consortia funded by the UK Prevention Research Partnership (UKPRP).

“Levelling Up” health

Published in February to a mixed reception, the “Levelling Up” white paper outlines the UK Government’s strategy for tackling the stark inequalities which exist between regions across the UK.

Health inequalities are shaped by social and economic factors, as well as commercial influences, and therefore must be addressed as part of a broader approach to tackling inequalities.

Whilst areas of the white paper demonstrate a shift to reframe reducing health inequalities towards addressing wider inequalities, these are limited.

Despite the inclusion of a specific target for reducing health inequalities within the white paper, the authors highlight that the proposed measures for achieving this target are limited to health promotion and diagnostics, which available evidence suggests are unlikely to be effective.

A missed opportunity

Unequal exposure to commercial determinants of health, for example the availability of tobacco and alcohol, are also key drivers of health inequalities. However, these receive limited attention in the white paper.

This is highlighted by the study as a missed opportunity, with previous evidence demonstrating the impact of alcohol in changing mortality rates across the UK.

Most importantly, as highlighted by others, the strategy lacks the crucial long-term public investment needed to drive change.

Overcoming the UK’s persistent health inequalities requires far bolder policy investments and actions to address inequalities in social determinants such as housing, employment and income.

Although an explicit acknowledgement of the links between social and economic inequalities and health inequalities is welcome, the white paper is frustratingly preoccupied with lifestyle behaviours and health gaps. This, coupled with the omission of commercial, social and political drivers of poor health, make it unlikely that the programme will generate the action needed to reduce the UK’s appalling health inequalities.

Dr Rob Ralston SPECTRUM Research Fellow and Study Lead

The cost of living crisis means attempts to ‘level up’ are welcome. However, the lesson of post-reunification Germany is that reducing inequalities requires policies to achieve a fairer distribution of resources. This white paper lacks such proposals and, rather than focusing on wellbeing economics, instead persists with the idea that traditional economic approaches can somehow tackle the very inequalities these policy approaches helped produce.

Professor Kat Smith SIPHER Co-Investigator and co-author

It’s fantastic to see this collaboration between two UKPRP consortia, highlighting the importance of a broad policy approach to improve population health and reduce health inequalities.

Dr Katherine Dunne Programme Manager for the UK Prevention Research Partnership (UKPRP)