Turning Point responds to concerning trends in healthy life expectancy

New analysis from the Health Foundation reveals deeply concerning trends in healthy life expectancy across the UK, highlighting widening health inequalities and the growing impact of deprivation on people’s health. In response, Turning Point Chief Executive Julie Bass sets out the urgent need for prevention, early intervention and sustained investment in community‑based services.

As a leading social care provider supporting more than 200,000 people each year, Turning Point sees first‑hand how declining healthy life expectancy, growing complexity and unequal access to support are affecting individuals and communities.

This response outlines Turning Point’s call for action to reduce health inequalities and improve long‑term health outcomes nationwide.

“New Health Foundation analysis on healthy life expectancy in the UK is deeply troubling. Whilst life expectancy has remained relatively stable, people are living in poorer health for longer. Over the past decade the average person has seen a 2-year reduction in healthy life expectancy across the UK.

“The regional inequalities exposed are stark, with a clear link between deprivation and reduced healthy life expectancy. The gap between the most and least deprived deciles in England is now 19.4 years for males and 20.3 years for females

“Turning Point supports over 200,000 people annually, including those more likely to experience poorer health outcomes than others. The increased decline in healthy life expectancy reflects rising complexity experienced by many of the people we support.

“At Turning Point, we believe that better prevention and early intervention is key. This includes playing our part in addressing the wider determinants of health as the drivers of health inequalities as both a provider of services and as an employer of 5000 people.

“We believe that good work is often an essential component to promoting health lives which is why Turning Point supports people into employment through our services and actively employs people with lived and living experience, recognising that many people with health conditions, including mental health challenges, can thrive in work with the right support.

“Across our alcohol support services, we have greatly expanded our FibroScan capacity, which has risen by 297% in the past year alone. These scans offer a non-invasive assessment of liver health and are key to the early identification of potential alcohol harm.

“Our sexual health services are based upon a pioneering partnership model, bringing support closer to communities across London. This model enables culturally competent communication and education around sexual health need, helping people from minority groups to stay well for longer.

“People we support in our learning disability services have a 100% uptake on their annual health checks – an important mechanism in supporting health and wellbeing.

“Reducing health inequalities is central to our work and this data highlights the need to invest in preventative and community-based services. We support the Health Foundation’s call to prioritise improving the nation’s health on a par with delivering economic growth.”