Doncaster and Bradford get £10m for research into poor health

Ministers yesterday announced that £50 million has been awarded to 13 local authorities across the UK to tackle inequalities through research centres which will find local challenges to people’s ill health.

The work, overseen by the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR), will enable future interventions to help with childhood obesity, Covid recovery, mental wellbeing and drug use.

Robert Jenrick, the health minister, said: “The pandemic shone a light on the stark health inequalities that exist across the country – we are committed to levelling up the health of the nation.

“This funding will drive progress to address health challenges locally, particularly in the places and communities most affected by ill health such as high levels of obesity, drug use and poor mental health.

“Everyone should be able to live long, healthy lives regardless of their background and where they live, and this new research will help us deliver on our ambition.”

It comes following warning from the British Medical Association (BMA) that the UK is a “ticking timebomb” of ill health that wasn’t helped by the Government’s quest for growth.

“A major barrier to improving population health is the perception that economic growth will automatically lead to better health,” it said.

“Economic growth in itself is not sufficient to improve health and poor population health will ultimately have an inevitable adverse impact on the economy.”

The report warned that the health of the population was declining and inequalities were widening.

The Covid-19 pandemic led to a decline in life expectancy, a sharp reversal of previous trends, which helped exacerbate the gulfs between how long adults live healthy lives in richer and poorer areas across the country.

Professor Lucy Chappell, the chief executive officer of the NIHR, said: “Millions of people living in Britain’s towns, cities and regions face a huge range of public health challenges, brought into focus during the Covid pandemic.

“This NIHR research funding will provide a foundation to develop local authorities’ capacity and capability to conduct high-quality research.

“It’s clear that people working in local government have the added advantage of knowing their local areas and communities.

“This investment will equip them to embed a lasting legacy of research culture to help local populations take important steps forward in tackling health inequalities.”