Life expectancy in the UK has been stalling since 2011, and there is an 18-year gap in healthy life expectancy between the least and most socioeconomically deprived populations. Fluctuations in government priorities, a tendency towards short-term political decision-making, and challenges in addressing complex dynamic issues, all lead to insufficient attention by government on creating the conditions for a healthy life.

Over the past decade there has been a significant shift in expenditure across government, moving from spending on the services and infrastructure that help people stay healthy, towards addressing problems that could be avoided in the first place. This short-term approach is storing up significant problems for the future and runs the risk of widening inequalities in people’s health.

This publication makes the case for an ambitious, whole-government approach to long-term investment in the nation’s health. We recommend five shifts in the government’s overall approach to achieving this aim and outline how investment can be rebalanced towards areas of spending that maintain and improve health, such as early years services, housing and social security.

Key points:

• The health of the population is one of any nation's greatest assets. Good health improves people’s wellbeing, their productive capacity and their ability to participate in society.
• Over the past decade there has been a significant shift in expenditure across government, moving from spending on the services and infrastructure that help people stay healthy, towards addressing problems that could be avoided in the first place.
• This short-term approach is storing up significant problems for the future and runs the risk of widening inequalities in people’s health.
• This publication makes the case for an ambitious, whole-government approach to long-term investment in the nation’s health. It includes five big shifts needed to embed a shared goal to improve health across the whole of government.