Overcoming health inequalities in ‘left behind’ neighbourhoods

Areas identified as ‘left behind’ have among the worst health outcomes in England, with growing disparities between them and the rest of the country. 

People living in these areas are 46 per cent more likely to have died from COVID-19 than those in the rest of England, and 7 per cent more likely to have died of the virus than those in other deprived areas. 

Key findings and recommendations: 

• Tackling the health inequalities facing local authorities with ‘left behind’ neighbourhoods and bringing them up to England’s average could add an extra £29.8bn to the country’s economy each year.
• A local approach is needed to improve health outcomes in ‘left behind’ neighbourhoods. The economic, social and physical environment all play important roles in improving population health. This includes the poverty rates, unemployment rates, wages, the type of work and employment available in an area.

• Long-term ring-fenced funding is needed to ensure more effective delivery of resources on the ground, and for targeted health inequalities programmes with a hyper-local focus that prioritises ‘left behind’ areas with the worse health outcomes and which have been most affected by COVID-19.

Local Trust acted as secretariat to the APPG for ‘left behind’ neighbourhoods over the course of its activities in the 2019-2024 parliament.