Unleashing health and prosperity throughout Britain

While a theoretical understanding of the links between health and wealth is increasingly recognised, the practical elements of what makes it work on the ground are less evidenced. This paper shines a light on these elements, showcasing tangible principles that work.  

Based on engagement with five local areas in England and Wales, it puts forward a set principles that have proven to aid successful social and economic development: making the integrated care partnership, health board or equivalent leadership body the vehicle to unlocking the anchor system; looking inward and recognising the assets systems already have at the ready; linking with local inclusive growth strategies; devolving accountability; sharing resources across partners; and leading the cultural shift necessary to generate more long-termist thinking. 

Each of the places we worked with provided a case study to illustrate what the principles look like in practice, surfacing the different ways in which this mission can be successfully progressed, regardless of the system’s maturity and experience in this area.

For many of these principles to work in practice, the centre will need to do its part to allow leaders to fully harness the autonomy that devolution requires, while ensuring that the necessary resources to realise social and economic development are provided in a sustainable and robust fashion.