Your report on inequality in British communities places particular emphasis on detailing inequalities across the country ('The posh-poor gap': the rise in areas of England where wealth and deprivation coexist, December 1). These are not just socio-economic problems – they have a huge impact on our health, well-being and our life expectancy.
This harsh truth is nowhere more evident than in my constituency, Leeds Central and Headingley, where biggest gap in life expectancy in England based on Health Equals data. Residents in the Hyde Park area are expected to live 14 years less than residents of neighboring Far Headingley and Withwood. A half-hour walk will take you from one area to another, which equates to more than a decade of lost life.
Child poverty And fuel poverty play a big part in the division between these two parts of Leeds, but other factors will also play a part. Our health is shaped by the air we breathe, the homes we live in, the jobs we do, the money in our pockets—and these building blocks don't suit everyone. The Ten Year Health Plan has set clear targets for the NHS, but health is about more than just access to services. All aspects of policy can influence health, which is why a cross-government strategy to tackle health inequalities is vital. It must make prevention a priority, set ambitious targets and make improving health a shared goal across all parts of government.
Taking action to promote health equity is Work the government could stop the unnecessary reduction of life in counties like mine.
Alex Sobel
Member of Parliament for Leeds Central and Headingley and Parliamentary Champion for Health Equals
