Health should be the new wealth, says new report

A joint report from Yorkshire & Humber Academic Health Science Network, the NHS Confederation and Yorkshire Universities has argued that health should be the new wealth.

The report’s authors say bold actions are needed by local and national leadership to embed a renewed focus on health, tackle long-standing regional inequalities, and level up future investment in Yorkshire’s health and life sciences assets as we begin living with and beyond the coronavirus pandemic.

Health inequalities undermine the region’s economic potential, with the report pointing to a two-year gap in life expectancy between the north and the south, with people in the north 20 per cent more likely to die early.

The report states that there is a tremendous opportunity in Yorkshire and the Humber to use the area’s unique assets as an economy to improve health and wellbeing, whilst contributing to inclusive economic growth: meaning a fairer society where everyone benefits.  However, this hinges on greater regional investment from central government.   

The report highlights figures for regional infrastructure investment, regional growth of GVA (a measure which captures economic activity), and the region’s health outcomes which fall far below the national averages: the region’s GVA per head lags behind the UK average by £6,129; life expectancy in Yorkshire and the Humber is 1 year 10 months lower than England’s average; around 22 per cent of Digital Health jobs in England and Wales are based in the Leeds City Region alone; Yorkshire and the Humber is home to over 650 health companies compared to a total 350 in Oxford and Cambridge combined.

Richard Stubbs, chief executive of the Yorkshire and Humber Academic Health Science Network (AHSN) said: “We have over 650 health and life sciences companies within Yorkshire and the Humber - more than Oxford and Cambridge combined. These institutions played a significant civic role before the pandemic, and Covid-19 has only accelerated this contribution. The regional joint working we have seen throughout the pandemic must continue as we begin to rebuild and recover.  It means anchor institutions – hospitals, universities, local and combined authorities – all working together to engage communities and other partners, but also boosting the role they themselves play as large employers and significant contributors and influencers within the local economy.

“Yorkshire and the Humber as a region does not punch its weight in terms of economic output and positive health outcomes. We have a real opportunity to utilise the region’s assets and ‘shake things up’: creating a real difference across the region for the benefit of its population. We have already some made fantastic progress, however we desperately need additional investment and support from central government to truly realise the region’s potential.”  

Niall Dickson, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said: “We believe there is a vital role for the health and care sector to play within the wider economic and social recovery of local places. Nationally, there is a need for government to adopt a health-in-all-policies approach and to see health and public services as an investment. Locally, we are supporting our leaders to understand that the impact, value and responsibility of their anchor organisations goes well beyond traditional NHS boundaries.

“We believe cross-sector collaboration and place-based partnerships - including between Integrated Care Systems, Local Enterprise Partnerships and Combined Authorities – will play a key role in realising the potential of our regions, such as Yorkshire and Humber, and in achieving improved population health and inclusive growth more generally.”