Creating healthier urban places: our response to the new government’s health mission
Our team gives their thoughts on the change needed to deliver healthier, more equitable places across the country.
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Good health is the keystone of a prosperous and just society. This Autumn Budget presents an opportunity for the Government to make strategic investments that will deliver long-term benefits for the nation’s health and economic fortunes.
The Government has made clear the financial challenges facing the country. Our proposals are designed to present a balanced mixture of revenue positive policy, expenditure based on value-for-money interventions, and targeted investments to support long-term health and prosperity.
Each of the interventions listed in this submission will support the Government’s health mission, specifically its aim to reduce health inequalities. We know that health is overwhelmingly shaped by the environments where people live, work and play, not the health service. Good food, clean air and financial security underpin health equity and, in turn, support people to actively contribute to a productive and resilient economy.
As the Government has stated, to put the NHS back on a sustainable footing will require a preventative approach, and the proposals below focus on the social, financial and commercial drivers of health, rather than short-term and costly investment in services.
Our work on some of the most challenging health issues – and as an institutional investor demonstrates the enormous potential and willingness of industry to play an active role in improving the nation’s health, whether as employers, providers of the food we consume, or contributors to air pollution.
In recommendations 3 and 4 of the full report, we highlight where government can incentivise businesses to play their role, and how government can leverage private sector investment and action in supporting health ambitions. This will ultimately deliver benefit for communities, the Exchequer and businesses.
Our recommendations:
- Incentivise and support companies to improve the nutritional profile of food products
- Make funding available for a fully funded child poverty strategy
- Incentivise business to improve air quality
- Ensure the energy sector contributes equitably to resolving problem debt
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