Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Amelia Hill

Why preventing long-term sickness in the UK is an economic necessity

A nurse giving a patient a diabetes test.
A nurse giving a patient a diabetes test. Type 2 diabetes is one of the often preventable long-term illnesses that contribute to the almost 3m people off work in the UK. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA

The extension of life expectancy in the 20th century was supposed to be one of the greatest societal opportunities in modern Britain.

But although the longevity dividend bought valuable health and economic gains for individuals and societies, it has long ceased to pay out: instead of living longer, healthier lives, we are an increasingly sick nation where we live longer, but in worse health.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.