This month, in the Clarity Digest we delve into one of the most pressing public health challenges we are facing: health inequalities. Drawing on the latest evidence from leading national reports, we explore the root causes, current trends, and urgent actions needed to close the health gap.
Understanding the Causes
Health inequalities are deeply rooted in the social, economic, and political structures that shape our lives. According to the Local Government Association, these disparities stem from unequal access to power, money, and resources. Factors such as poor housing, insecure employment, limited access to quality care, and environmental conditions all interact to reinforce disadvantage.
The World Health Organization and UK experts agree: tackling these inequalities requires systemic, integrated approaches, not isolated interventions.
The Current Landscape
- Geographic and socioeconomic disparities: People in the most deprived areas have nearly double the emergency hospital admissions for infectious diseases and up to 19 years lower healthy life expectancy than those in the least deprived areas.
- Mortality trends: according to the Health Foundation (2025), mortality rates are a “well-recognised indicator of a population’s health and wellbeing.” The UK now ranks 6th highest in male mortality among high-income countries. Mid-life deaths and “deaths of despair” (from suicide, drugs, and alcohol) are on the rise, reflecting worsening population health.
- Ethnic health disparities remain severe, with significantly higher tuberculosis rates among Asian and Indian groups, and Black women facing triple the risk of maternal death compared to White women.
- Economic impact: research shows that Health inequalities are costing England £30 billion annually in lost productivity, with the NHS spending up to £1.5 billion annually on emergency admissions linked to inequality.
Key recommendations include
- Prioritising upstream social determinants
- Strengthening place-based and regional strategies
- Improving access and quality of care
- Enhancing data, monitoring, and accountability
- Sustaining investment in prevention and public health
Additional Resources
This issue also features a curated selection of recent publications and podcasts exploring key themes in health and care - ranging from leadership and productivity to performance and equity. These resources offer valuable insights into the evolving landscape of health and social care, helping sector leaders stay informed, inspired and equipped to drive meaningful change.
Click here to view the Clarity Digest.
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