Flatlining data shows lost decade in health improvement

It also shows that deprived groups, renters and those who provide unpaid care are less likely to report being in good health.

The findings come from an analysis of changes in self-reported health between 2011 and 2021 in England and Wales by demographic and socioeconomic characteristics.

• People living in the most deprived areas of England are 23% less likely to report being in good health when compared with people experiencing moderate levels of deprivation.
• Renters are less likely to report being in good health compared to those who own their own property.
• Social renters, who made up 17% of all households in England in 2021, are 68% less likely to report being in good health than those who own their own property.
• People who provide more than 20 hours of unpaid care are 37% less likely to report being in good health than those providing no unpaid care.
• Fewer young people today consider themselves to be in good health compared to 2011, but are still more likely to think they are in good health overall compared to middle-aged people.

The Royal Society for Public Health are calling for urgent changes to boost wellbeing and tackle health problems.

They argue that an increased proportion of the health budget should be spent on preventative services, rather than in acute settings.

In real terms, spending on healthcare in the UK has never been higher. Taking into account measures announced at the Budget, NHS funding is due to be over £190 billion in 2025/26.  Less than 8% of government health spending went on preventative services in 2022.

Commenting on the release of the data, William Roberts, chief executive of the Royal Society for Public Health said, “These figures are a wake-up call. They illustrate that over the past decade, we have failed to make meaningful progress in improving the public’s health.

“It is imperative that we build health outside the NHS. We need the Government to look beyond the health service and focus on prevention, to stop people from getting ill and to help them stay well.

“We know the NHS needs fixing. By putting prevention at the heart of their 10 Year Plan, the Government can ensure that our national health improves, instead of continuing to decline.

"Everyone stands to benefit from good health. Helping people to live healthier lives benefits individuals, reduces strain on our health service and boosts the economy.”