Call to put regional health at the heart of recovery
The North East England Chamber of Commerce has urged the Government to put improved regional health at the heart of the recovery to level up the country.
Writing to the Health Secretary, the Chamber highlighted how better health had the potential to increase economic productivity and reduce long-term unemployment in the region.
In the letter, the Chamber highlighted how ill health and economic inactivity are key problems for the North East.
As of Q1 2020, the North East economic inactivity rate was 22.9%, 3.3% above of the national average. 28.4% of those are economically inactive due to long term sickness, compared to a national average of 24.6%.
It stated Government also needs to work with local authorities to develop, pilot and scale-up interventions to improve public health which are proven to be effective in the region.
The Chamber also urges more focus on waiting times for mental health support.
If people are unable to access NHS treatment this can lead to increased time off work.
Businesses in the North East need to be able to ensure that they can refer their employees to the right support.
It says improving levels of wellbeing and health within the UK needs to be a key part of our recovery and the ‘build back better’ strategy.
They are an important way of measuring progress on the levelling up agenda.
Health overlaps with a range of areas, including access to quality housing, poverty, education, quality of work and jobs in the North East. Improvement will go a long way in reducing the productivity gap in the UK.