The biggest factors that shape health and inequalities lie outside health care. These building blocks of health include our jobs and homes, our access to education, public transport and safe green spaces with clean air, and whether we experience poverty or discrimination.
Yet governments repeatedly prioritise the NHS over broader investments and policies to help people live healthier lives. It is too easy for action on the building blocks of health to slip down political priorities.
We have established ourselves as an authoritative voice on the society-wide action needed to improve health and reduce health inequalities by focusing on these building blocks. We provide evidence and analysis on the factors that shape these and offer a comprehensive narrative on the need for coordinated action across government and society. We also go deeper on the key building blocks where we can have an impact – including work and the economy, and health risks like obesity and alcohol.
Our health inequalities evidence hub brings together data, insights and analysis exploring how the circumstances in which we live shape our health. We present latest trends on topics such as money and resources, work, housing and transport, and explore why they matter for health.
We produce insights on health trends, what drives them and how to make progress on key health risk factors – including tobacco, alcohol, air pollution and obesity. We support regional and local leaders to apply these insights, concentrating on areas where our support will make the most difference.
Our local authority dashboard brings together data and insights on health and inequalities across all local authorities in England. And programmes such as Shaping Places for Healthier Lives, Economies for Healthier Lives and the Mayoral Regions Programme provide support for councils to work with partners from their local area to improve health.
Our research and analysis help policymakers understand the importance of health to the strength of the economy and support a shift towards more preventative public spending. We are helping put into practice the recommendations from our Commission for Healthier Working Lives, which explored action to address the decline in working-age health. Our analytical work on the drivers of health will enable us to improve understanding of the science and build greater confidence in action.
We build support for cross-sector action on health inequalities and undertake new work on developing a whole-government strategy for health. We also support Health Equals, a campaign to build public support for change involving a coalition of over 100 organisations from different sectors that want to positively impact health and wellbeing.
Our work sets out the changes needed to enable a long-term shift in how government approaches improving health and reducing health inequalities. An ambitious new programme will independently assess and challenge the government’s approach to improving health and reducing health inequalities, aiming to build a stronger commitment to, and accountability for, impact. It will analyse policies, provide expert assessment of priorities and gaps, and set up an independent advisory committee for improving the nation’s health.
This webinar explored how places can translate national ambition into effective local action - by integrating mental health and employment support to help more people enter, remain in, and progress in...
About 7 mins
Shuab Gamote spent 3 months travelling the country speaking to young people not in education, employment or training. What did they tell him?
About 3 mins
Andy Burnham has been outspoken about his commitment to social care reform. Richard Humphries examines how this might translate in a Burnham premiership.
About 5 mins
2 years since taking office and 1 year since its 10-Year Health Plan, how is Labour's health mission progressing?
Data and insight highlighting how the circumstances in which we live shape our health.
This webinar explored how places can translate national ambition into effective local action - by integrating mental health and employment support to help more people enter, remain in, and progress in...
About 5 mins
A look at what actions can help embed sustainability into core policy, accountability and care delivery to help the NHS meet its net zero target.
About 5 mins
A new report by the Strategy Unit shows how understanding failure demand can help shape action to improve productivity.
About 5 mins
Three key areas where local action can help address ill health and economic inactivity in young people.
This briefing aims to support MPs during the Second Reading of the Health Bill on Monday 1 June 2026. It sets out the Health Foundation's overall position on the Bill and identifies five issues that r...