Dave Finch
@davefinch.bsky.social
Assistant Director, Healthy Lives The Health Foundation
Great piece in @financialtimes.com from Chair of our Commission for #healthierworkinglives Acting early to prevent people from leaving work due to sickness is a sustainable way to reduce pressures on the welfare state www.ft.com/content/d324...
How to keep sick people in employment
Support often comes too late — after workers have left jobs and when they have little chance of going back
ft.com
Great piece in @financialtimes.com from Chair of our Commission for #healthierworkinglives Acting early to prevent people from leaving work due to sickness is a sustainable way to reduce pressures on the welfare state www.ft.com/content/d324...
ft.com
Today’s poverty statistics show that in 2023/24 31% of children were in poverty in the UK Reducing this is now harder for govt's child poverty strategy with planned cuts to disability and health-related benefits to leave a further 50,000 children in poverty in 2029/30 www.gov.uk/government/s...
Households Below Average Income: an analysis of the UK income distribution: FYE 1995 to FYE 2023
gov.uk
The cuts to disability and health related benefits in the Spring Statement at £7bn a year by 2029-30 are 4x those set out by the previous government's changes to WCA descriptors. Short term savings are unlikely to deal with underlying problems increasing the welfare bill
The Health Foundation@healthfoundation.bsky.social · last yr.Responding to today’s Spring Statement, our Chief Executive, Jennifer Dixon says the Chancellor's cuts risk compromising people's health, with changes to benefits that will leave many people worse off, in worse health and less able to return to work. Read our full response ⬇️ buff.ly/YZ6EXKJ
DWP is using a sleight of hand in its disability benefit cuts impact assessment: Actual increase in poverty is closer to 400,000, not the 250,000 in the impact assessment. Quick thread explaining why. 🧵1/7
Good to see this - it reflects one of seven recommendations from the @healthfoundation.bsky.social's Commission for #HealthierWorkingLives. The government must move beyond short-term fixes and invest in long-term support for work and health. More in the Commission’s final report:
Action for healthier working lives
The Commission for Healthier Working Lives’ final report sets out the need for a new approach to work and health, outlining seven key recommendations to lay the foundation for long-term change.
health.org.uk
Stef Benstead@stefbenstead.bsky.social · last yr."The work and pensions secretary will promise a “right to try” guarantee for those currently on benefits to take on work but return to previous benefits if the job does not work out, without having to go through a gruelling reassessment process." www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...
🧵 Good to see our commissioned research mentioned by @faisalislam.bsky.social The upcoming Green Paper must offer a vision for keeping people healthy and in work, fixing gaps in the system such as low Statutory Sick Pay and inadequate support for those who risk falling out of work⬇️ buff.ly/eDyfxXP
The major question thrown up by Labour's benefits plans
The debate has sparked a wider dilemma about the broader purpose of welfare
buff.ly
Timely analysis from @theifs.bsky.social we've funded with @jrf-uk.bsky.social exploring role of health in increases in disability benefit claims Highlights the role of worsening mental health of the working age population And underscores the need to address underlying factors affecting health
Eduin Latimer@eduinlatimer.bsky.social · last yr.New report out today with colleagues @theifs.bsky.social and funded by @jrf-uk.bsky.social and @healthfoundation.bsky.social. We look at what we know about the role of changing health and reported disability in the 38% rise in people claiming disability benefits since the pandemic. A 🧵 [1/10]
A few months ago the FT suggested the surge in disability benefit claims may not have been driven by an actual rise in illness/disability, having found limited evidence for such a rise since the pandemic Now the IFS has published research suggesting there has been a rise ifs.org.uk/news/various...
Various indicators point to a deterioration in population mental health – likely contributing to rising disability benefit caseloads | Institute for Fiscal Studies
Mental health has worsened since the pandemic. This is consistent with rising disability benefit claims for mental health.
ifs.org.uk
📣 NEW: Final report by our Commission for #HealthierWorkingLives. The Commissioners say government and employers must act early when health issues arise – not wait until people have already left work ⬇️ buff.ly/EfkpBQu
Action for healthier working lives
The Commission for Healthier Working Lives’ final report sets out the need for a new approach to work and health, outlining seven key recommendations to lay the foundation for sustained long-term…
buff.ly
Cuts to welfare won’t solve the working age health challenge. Coverage of new @healthfoundation.bsky.social report in todays @theguardian.com It’s not enough to reform welfare - there must be more support for people in work but in ill health www.theguardian.com/business/202...
More support for people in ill health to stay in work ‘could save UK £1bn’
Commission for Healthier Working Lives warns against cutting benefits and calls for proactive route for 8m affected
theguardian.com
Responding to the English Devolution White Paper, Katherine Merrifield says there is much to commend but the devil will be in the detail. New powers and fairer funding are critical to delivering the government’s health mission but more clarity is needed. Read more ⬇️ https://buff.ly/4fk6aEY
What is behind changes in health between the 2011 and 2021 censuses? In a new blog, @davefinch.bsky.social and Fred Taylor explore what recent ONS data releases tell us about the scale of the challenge of improving health and reducing inequalities in the UK. Read more ⬇️ https://buff.ly/4fmd64c
Out just now, this is now explicit guidance in the National Planning Policy Framework! This will be a huge help for councils wanting to create healthy places, reducing the scope for costly legal challenges from fast food companies. #HealthyPlaceShaping www.gov.uk/government/p...
Today's OHID data shows the number of deaths caused by alcohol in England have now risen for *five years in a row* and are 40% higher than pre-pandemic. England hasn't had an alcohol strategy for over a decade. The case for action has never been stronger 👇 www.telegraph.co.uk/global-healt...
Today we have published new analysis of disability benefits to adults in Scotland. Disability benefit claims have risen significantly across Great Britain post-pandemic and (as expected following ADP roll-out) even more so in Scotland. https://buff.ly/3VfFTjU
New awards of disability benefits for adults - comparing Scotland with England and Wales - Scottish Health Equity Research Unit
Adult disability benefits are non-means tested payments available to people with ill health or a disability to compensate for some of the additional costs of living. These payments are not dependent…
buff.ly
Big news today in #localgov land: the govt has announced a policy statement on the future of local govt funding. The long delayed so-called “fair funding review” is back- a new consultation will look at a system which “matches funding with need”… www.gov.uk/government/n...
Council funding to be overhauled to deliver better outcomes
Funding reform kickstarted to fix the foundations of local government and better use taxpayer cash
gov.uk
📢New research! Our report for the Commission for #HealthierWorkingLives, supported by @healthfoundation.bsky.social reveals that poor job quality threatens the health of the UK workforce with 1.7 million people reporting work-related ill health in the last year. Read: bit.ly/3CH4uYB 1/
Lord Bethell highlighting working age health as a cause for significant concern to Treasury and others. Read more on the challenge of working age ill health - and what needs to be done - in the @healthfoundation.bsky.social recent report. #ADPHConf24 www.health.org.uk/publications...
Towards a healthier workforce
This interim report of the Commission for Healthier Working Lives both highlights why our working-age health challenges demand attention and provides areas where immediate action can be taken.
health.org.uk
With housing and planning remaining high on the political agenda, & the introduction of a revised NPPF, our Annual Conference will explore how the built environment sector can maximise the potential of the new proposals. www.tcpa.org.uk/event/save-the-date-the-tcpa-annual-conference-2024-in-person/
We've heard a lot about the #10yearhealthplan (NHS). And far less about the #healthmission. It has a goal to reduce inequalities in healthy life expectancy #HLE by half. A huge ambition, is it mission possible? Me for @thekingsfund.bsky.social www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-...
Mission Possible? The Government’s Overarching Goal For Reducing Inequalities In Healthy Life Expectancy | The King's Fund
The government's ambitious plan to reduce inequalities in healthy life expectancy holds promise. But with broad goals and no clear timeline, the journey is complex says David Buck.
kingsfund.org.uk
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.... Progress Stalled? The Uncertain Future of Mortality in High-Income Countries For anyone that wants detailed demographic and epidemiological crystal ball gazing. .. this is truly excellent Detailed Few stones left unturned
<em>Population and Development Review</em> | Population Council Journal | Wiley Online Library
Steady and significant improvements in life expectancy have been a bright spot for human progress for the last century or more. Recently, this success has shown signs of faltering in some high-income...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
New HSE data highlights ongoing workplace health challenges in Great Britain. In 2023/24, 1.7 million workers reported health problems caused or worsened by their jobs. While slightly down from last year, it’s still much higher than the 1.2 million reported a decade ago.
Good to see greater efforts to boost active travel and recognition of the role transport plays in supporting good health. We have more on this, including our very low rates of walking and cycling on our evidence hub www.health.org.uk/evidence-hub...
Transport | The Health Foundation
Explore how transport can play a role in improving health and addressing health inequalities
health.org.uk
Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH)@adphuk.bsky.social · 2y agoToday’s announcement will support public health teams’ ongoing efforts to work with partners to make active transport an accessible, affordable option for everyone. It is, as @chrisboardman.bsky.social says, a win-win for everyone. www.gov.uk/government/n...
Today’s announcement will support public health teams’ ongoing efforts to work with partners to make active transport an accessible, affordable option for everyone. It is, as @chrisboardman.bsky.social says, a win-win for everyone. www.gov.uk/government/n...
Government guidelines to make school runs happier, healthier and greener
New guidance will help to design activity into our neighbourhoods and reduce congestion on the roads during school run times.
gov.uk
Our @healthfdn.bsky.social local authority dashboard includes newly updated data and insights on key building blocks of health - work, 💷,🏡, 🚃 Explore the state of health and #HealthInequalities in local areas across England 👇 www.health.org.uk/evidence-hub...
Local authority dashboard
Explore data for your local authority and neighbourhood
health.org.uk
We have a new publication out that looks at what the 2022 census can tell us about people living in deprived areas, and how it's changed since 2011. scothealthequity.org/scotlands-ce...
Scotland's Census: Understanding changes in health and socioeconomic inequality since 2011 - Scottish Health Equity Research Unit
scothealthequity.org
