A new report has suggested that the healthy life expectancy is now at 61 years old for men and women in the UK. Healthy life expectancy (HLE) measures the average years spent in "good" health, distinct from total life expectancy. The health of people in the UK has decreased over recent years due to poverty, poor housing and lifestyle factors such as diet choices. It has been said too that the pandemic may have caused some issues with health for some people.

Specific areas of the UK were different where London saw an increase in healthy life expectancy (HLE) to around 69 years old for men and 70 for women but in Blackpool, the HLE decreased to around 51 for men and women. This shows that there is a postcode lottery for health and wellbeing for older people where support systems, early help and medication may be more freely available in places like London over Blackpool. Health inequalities are unfair, systematic and avoidable differences in health status, life expectancy and care access between different population groups.

Aside from living for less years, there are other economic impacts of a decrease in HLE. As people become older and less well, they work less which contributes less taxes to the economy. This is problematic for the UK and our economy; therefore it is vital to attempt to improve health and wellbeing of people entering their 50s and 60s to encourage them to work up until the retirement age of 67 to aid our economy.

1. Is it unfair if poorer people live shorter, less healthy lives?

2. Are people or society responsible for their health?

3. Can a country be successful if many people are unhealthy?