Last time Britain was this sick, drastic action was taken. This time, politicians don’t seem to care

‘Politicians and policymakers have not understood that investing in health is investing in the economy and too often see illness as a drain.’ Photograph: Ianni Dimitrov Pictures/Alamy

The UK is the “sick man” of Europe again. On almost every health indicator – life expectancy, healthy life expectancy, obesity rates and healthcare capacity – we lag behind our peers. This week, ONS data reconfirmed the substantial impact this is having on our national prosperity. The number of people who cannot work primarily because of long-term illness reached yet another record, at nearly 2.6 million.

This backs up recent research by the IPPR Commission on Health and Prosperity (which I co-chair). By tracking people over time, it demonstrated how the onset of sickness had substantial consequences in the UK on economic participation, income, job satisfaction and productivity.