Responding to a survey that found more than half of doctors are seeing more patients with ill health caused by the wider determinants of health Dr Layla McCay, director of policy at the NHS Confederation, said:

“Our members across all 42 integrated care systems told us that tackling health inequalities is their number one priority for the next five years and we know they have been working hard to address this. People being able to live healthy lives is not just good for them but also for the economy and eases pressure on stretched NHS services.

“It is deeply concerning to hear that doctors are seeing more patients with ill health caused or worsened by avoidable social harms such as poor housing and air quality. Illnesses caused by socio-economic factors are glaring signs of health inequalities, many of which have been exacerbated by the pandemic and cost of living crisis. We have written to the Chancellor warning of the dangers of fuel poverty as well as creating a cost-of-living hub which compiles examples of emerging practice by our members to address issues such food insecurity, fuel poverty, and mental health.

“Only 20% of people’s health is determined by healthcare, with the rest impacted by wider issues such outside of the health system’s control. Leaders have long wondered why government health strategies more often turn out to be just another NHS plan.

"This is why in our recent report we are calling for a cross-government national mission for health improvement to shift the focus from simply treating illness to promoting health and wellbeing, reducing inequalities and tackling the wider determinants of health, and supporting the public to be active partners in their own health.

“This should be led by the Prime Minister and consider the impact of factors like housing, air quality, and food.”