Councils are leading transformative work on health inequalities
The publication of the groundbreaking 2010 Marmot Review and its follow-up 10 years later have been key to shaping our understanding of the social and economic costs of health inequalities.
These landmark reviews not only highlighted the urgency of addressing these disparities, but also provided a robust and well-evidenced business case for concerted national and local action. They continue to serve as a blueprint for creating a fairer society and improving health outcomes for our communities.
The Marmot approach, grounded in the social determinants of health, offers a powerful framework for tackling the root causes of health inequalities. It is not just about delivering better health outcomes, but about creating equitable communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
A newly published LGA report highlights the innovative and collaborative work of councils and their partners, who have embraced the Marmot principles and turned them into meaningful action. From leading the way with new initiatives in housing and employment to embedding health equity across policies and practice, the case studies in ‘Building fairer towns, cities, and regions: insights from Marmot Places’ showcase the determination of local government to adapt and innovate, despite funding pressures and lasting impacts from the pandemic.
“It is not just about delivering better health outcomes, but about creating equitable communities”
This work cannot stop here, however. The progress achieved so far must inspire ongoing commitment, both locally and nationally.
Addressing health inequalities requires sustained effort, robust partnerships, and an unwavering resolve to ensure that everyone, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to live a healthy and fulfilling life.
That is why we believe this report must also serve as a call to action for a new national health inequalities strategy. National leadership is vital to match the local ambition we see in these case studies.
By working together across sectors, regions and all levels of government, we can build on the progress already made and move closer to a more equitable society, where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Case study
Coventry: the first Marmot City
Coventry became the first Marmot City in 2013, partnering with the UCL Institute of Health Equity to tackle health inequalities.
Over the past 11 years, despite reduced local government funding, the pandemic, and the cost-of-living crisis, Coventry has maintained its commitment to health equity. It has embedded Marmot principles across council policies, ensuring that transport, housing and employment support initiatives consider their impact on health equity.
A cornerstone of Coventry’s Marmot approach is its ‘Job Shop’, a high-street hub offering employment advice and training, which supports around 170 residents daily. This service caters for diverse needs, from basic job searches to tailored support for ex-offenders.
After the pandemic, the city reinvigorated its Marmot work, fostering collaborations with 30 partners. Successes include reducing the proportion of Coventry’s neighbourhoods in England’s most deprived 10 per cent from 18.5 per cent to 14.4 per cent (2015 to 2019), and maintaining stable life-expectancy inequalities, even as national disparities widened.
In 2023, Coventry’s Marmot Monitoring Tool was launched to align city-wide efforts with emerging challenges, ensuring a system-wide response to health inequities.
- ‘Building fairer towns, cities and regions: insights from Marmot places’ can be read in full on the LGA’s website.