What does Levelling up mean for health and wellbeing?
Improving the UK population’s health and wellbeing is central to the Levelling Up agenda. Good health has a direct impact on a person’s ability to work, take part in education and enjoy life. Despite average life expectancies increasing over the past few decades in the UK, health and wellbeing have not improved for all members of the population, with the Covid-19 pandemic further exacerbating this trend. The Towns Fund is an opportunity to turn this trend around and bring long-lasting benefits to individuals and communities and the economies of the towns where they live.
Through the Towns Fund, we have been advising Towns on how to set health and wellbeing objectives, identify benefits and capture them through the development of Business Cases. These Towns are now looking ahead to the implementation of these projects which are so important for Levelling Up.
There are two essential elements to delivering successful improvements to health and wellbeing. The first is the effective use of evidence to guide local policies and strategies. The second is achieving effective working partnerships. We share two examples that demonstrate both elements.
Our first example comes from a London Borough, but it is applicable to any community. The preparations for the London Borough of Ealing’s new Local Plan demonstrated the role data and multi-level government coordination can play in guiding health and well-being outcomes.
A local evidence base was created listing the borough’s health assets, infrastructure, and services. This was combined with demographic and public health data, which ensured that health was a key component for guiding principles of the new Local Plan. This detailed assessment allowed the council both to assess its current health and well-being baseline conditions and to project its future baseline. The data gathered enabled the borough to identify clear strategic aims and policies to address both local health needs and the wider factors impacting health outcomes. The project relied on the effective close working practices between the London Borough of Ealing NHS, the London Estates Delivery Unit, consultants and universities.
The second example highlights the importance of an integrated and effective working partnership has proven the key determinant in delivering several landmark projects to date. Since 2009, the NHS and MOD rehabilitation services have shared facilities and knowledge to create a clinical rehabilitation centre near Loughborough. The defence rehabilitation centre has been operational since 2019 and helps those who have suffered a life-changing injury, trauma, or illness to regain a quality of life and integrate back into society and work.
Implementing this complex multi-party project required evidence of the existing gap in UK rehabilitation provision, the development of new care pathways, and clear demonstration of the economic benefits of doing so. The strong partnerships between the NHS, several universities, Ministry of Defence and third sector were initiated and supported from the very beginning by Nottingham City Council, which proved integral to the ongoing success of the project.
These are only two examples of projects that underline the important role Towns have to play in supporting communities through improved health and wellbeing outcomes to support the Levelling Up agenda. In turn, a reduced gap in health and wellbeing can improve the prosperity and productivity of Towns and their communities and create a more inclusive and healthier society for all.