Tackling health inequalities – people, places, possibilities

Health inequalities in the UK aren’t just persistent, they are also widening. The evidence is stark and consistent: more people are living with long-term illness, working-age health is declining, improvements in life expectancy are stalling, and the health gap between the richest and poorest communities remains stubbornly wide. Some groups of people continue to experience significantly poorer health and experiences of health and care services than others. Differences that are avoidable, unfair and systematic.

But there are reasons for hope. The scrapping of the two-child benefit cap and investment in neighbourhood health centres announced in the 2025 Autumn Budget are bold steps towards improving the public’s health. Despite a lack of broader national guidance on tackling health inequalities specifically, there remains great energy, momentum and drive at system, regional and local levels where there is a huge amount of impactful work happening to create good health for all.

Sharing the successes and challenges that come with working in this area can show what is possible when ideas are put into action.