Health inequalities ‘caused 1m early deaths in England in last decade’ | Inequality | The Guardian
▻https://www.theguardian.com/inequality/2024/jan/08/england-deaths-inequality-poverty-austerity-covid-study-public-health
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More than 1 million people in England died prematurely in the decade after 2011 owing to a combination of poverty, austerity and Covid, according to “shocking” new research by one of the UK’s leading public health experts.
The figures are revealed in a study by the Institute of Health Equity at University College London led by Sir Michael Marmot. They demonstrate the extent to which stark economic and social inequalities are leading to poorer people dying early from cancer, heart problems and other diseases.
‘1 Million Early Deaths in England’
1 million+ poorer people in England died prematurely over a decade from cancer, heart problems, and other diseases, a “dismal” new study finds.
Government austerity measures and COVID-19 led to “stark economic and social inequalities” that worsened outcomes, The Guardian reports.
The study: For the Health Inequalities, Lives Cut Short report, researchers at the Institute of Health Equity at University College London analyzed life expectancies of people across England who do not live in the wealthiest 10% of areas between 2011 and 2019.
The findings:
1 million+ people died earlier than they would have if they lived in those rich areas.
148,000 of those deaths were linked to economic austerity measures implemented in 2010.
Pandemic-era inequalities led to an additional 28,000 excess deaths.
People in the U.K. fared worse in “healthy life years”—how long someone lives free of ill health—compared with E.U. countries.
The Quote: “Our country has become poor and unhealthy, where a few rich, healthy people live,” said IHE leader Sir Michael Marmot, who described the mounting inequality as a “shocking political failure.”
Only one other developed country, said Marmot, fares worse in terms of inequality: the U.S.