Liverpool City Council recently provided an update on its efforts to combat health inequalities in the city. A report revealed that residents in deprived areas of Liverpool were dying up to 15 years earlier than those in other parts of the city. During a Full Council meeting on April 2, Councillor Harry Doyle, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing, and Culture, presented a 12-month progress report on Liverpool’s response to the State of Health in Liverpool 2040 report, released in January 2024. The report projected that major illnesses could increase by 38,000 people by 2040 if left unaddressed.
In an effort to address these concerning findings, the Council handed over the oversight of the report’s recommendations to the Health and Wellbeing Board, chaired by Cllr Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council. The Council aims to make meaningful and long-term changes to tackle health inequalities in the city. Key achievements in the past year include the introduction of a new 0–19 Health Service for children and young people, an integrated addictions service for all ages, and the launch of LivLife, a healthy weight service supporting families and individuals with food and physical activity.
The Health and Wellbeing Board, in collaboration with over 200 local, regional, and national partners, has been actively implementing recommendations from the Liverpool Health 2040 report. The Council is currently developing proposals, utilizing a minimum of £500k in Public Health grant funding, to enhance youth services by investing significantly in youth workers. Liverpool has also championed data-driven decision-making in partnership with local universities and advocated for national policy changes to address unhealthy environments and behaviors. The Council’s commitment to becoming a Marmot City signifies its dedication to tackling health inequalities within the city.
Councillor Harry Doyle emphasized the importance of long-term, meaningful change in addressing deep-rooted health inequalities, highlighting the need for sustained effort and collaboration across the system. Liverpool’s Director of Public Health, Professor Matthew Ashton, acknowledged the urgency outlined in the Liverpool Health 2040 report and stressed the need to embed this approach in all strategies and actions at every level to ensure health equity becomes a core guiding principle for the city’s future
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