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that Yorkshire and the Humber also has the third lowest employment rate in England, with a record 2.8 million people out of work due to long-term sickness. This link is critical: good health supports economic activity, just as being in work improves health and wellbeing by reducing financial strain and providing social and psychological support. Beyond individuals, good work strengthens families and communities, driving both health and wealth at a societal level.
Our health inequalities portfolio is delivering projects and programmes in partnership with the health and care system to tackle both the impact and root causes of these regional challenges. In parallel, YHealth for Growth plays a crucial role in raising awareness, amplifying the work already underway, and advocating for policy changes at both local and national levels.
Last year, we took this message to the national stage at a parliamentary event sponsored by Fabian Hamilton, MP for Leeds North East, to launch our white paper‘ Empowering Local Places for Health and Prosperity’ developed with NHS Confederation and Yorkshire Universities. The event brought together leaders from civic, business, NHS, and university sectors. Stakeholders heard how Yorkshire can provide a blueprint for national policy, offering solutions for the Labour government, regional mayors, and businesses to tackle the health and economic inequalities that cost the UK at least £ 180bn per year. It was also a chance for national policymakers to see first-hand how collaborative, cross-sector approaches in Yorkshire and Humber are already making a difference.
The event served as a renewed call to action amongst regional and national leaders, as despite encouraging signs and the prior firm commitment of regional partners, health and economic disparities between our region and the UK average continue to grow.
The importance of this work is further highlighted in the government’ s Get Britain Working White Paper, announcing wideranging measures to tackle economic inactivity. As part of this, the three Yorkshire mayors will each receive up to £ 10M as an initial allocation to run schemes which will mobilise local work, health and skills support. This includes an NHS accelerator to stop people falling out of work completely due to ill health, which will be piloted by South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and York and North Yorkshire Combined Authorities. As part of our continued work in this space, we will work in close partnership with the region’ s mayors and their Combined Authority teams to generate the greatest possible impact from this important investment into the region.
Urgent action is needed against this important topic, and we remain committed to working closely with national, regional and business leaders to take advantage of accelerated devolution, growth investment, and proposed health service reforms. We will continue our important work to highlight the challenges facing the region, to drive forward the white paper’ s recommendations and stimulate further cross-sector action against this important topic area. By working in partnership, we can begin to turn the tide on the region’ s health and wealth divide and create a blueprint for other regions across the country.
Read our YHealth for Growth white paper
54 Transforming Lives Through Innovation