NAO: Life expectancy inequalities failure not value for money
National Audit Office head Amyas Morse comments on his latest report into life expectancy inequalities:
“The Department of Health has made a concerted effort to tackle a very difficult and long-standing problem.
“However, it was slow to take action and health inequalities were not a top priority for the NHS until 2006.
“We recognise that this is a very complicated issue and that it took time to develop an evidence base.
“However, the best, cost-effective interventions have been identified and now must be employed on a larger scale in order to have a greater impact and improve value for money.
“The department should target its efforts on the most deprived areas of the country and develop costed proposals to maintain or increase investment in preventative interventions to tackle the conditions which lead to health inequalities.”
