Reaching Out: Influencing the wider determinants of health

This research by the New Local Government Network has found that while public health teams have integrated well with people-focused services in local authorities, and that there is also growing recognition of housing’s role in tackling health inequalities, there are weaker connections with economic development teams and Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs).

It recommends that central government should invest £65m per annum into Health and Wellbeing Boards to support a 5-year ‘upstream prevention’ programme, which could fund pilots within their area that address the wider determinants of health.

Other recommendations include:

  • A call for amended legislation to clarify that ‘all local public services must have regard to the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) and Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy in their area’ so localities are better positioned to drive action across local systems, and
  • NHS England should produce guidance that requires Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships to engage with Health and Wellbeing Boards on the wider determinants of health