Whoever forms the next government will be leading a country in which improvements in life expectancy have stalled and where the health of the poorest has got worse. This presents a problem, not only for health and well-being but also for the future of our economy, the NHS and social care. For the nation’s economy to prosper, and keep up with progress in other economies across the world, it needs a healthy workforce. Poorer health limits people’s opportunity to engage in work. In turn, being out of work can lead to poverty, which is associated with worse health outcomes.
