Responding to Sir Keir Starmer’s five ‘missions’ speech, David Sinclair, Chief Executive of the International Longevity Centre UK (ILC) said:

“A longer-term vision of health policy is welcome, but it is not just about NHS reform. The healthy lifespan gap of nearly twenty years is unacceptable and public policy must ensure that every member of society can enjoy the benefits of living longer.

“Ill health is a huge burden on society and on individuals. There is an incredible dividend to longevity on many different levels if we can introduce policies which achieve healthier ageing for all. The economic case for a ‘prevention before cure’ approach is compelling. If we are healthier we work longer, spend more, volunteer more and provide more care.

“Improved investment in healthy ageing is critical to level the playing field in the major health conditions that we are all at risk from as we age. This should include, for example, expenditure on vaccinations across the life course and strategic use of assistive technology to enable early detection of disease, encourage lifestyle changes and enable better management of existing health conditions. Evidence from Canada shows that an investment of at least 6% of a health budget on preventative interventions can have a significant and lasting impact.”

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