I want to start by congratulating Damian [Green] and the whole APPG on the brilliant work youve done to get this issue onto the agenda.
Today is a day for detailed discussion about the proposals in your new Strategy.
But before we get to the policy I want to say a few words about the (small-p) politics.
Among policymakers especially in government our ageing society has traditionally been framed as a problem, a liability.
A source of pressure on public services. An unwelcome modern trend, like cybercrime or falling bee numbers.
But this is looking at things through the wrong end of the telescope.
Because of course its great news were all living longer.
And language matters. The words we use colour perception.
So lets hear less about our ageing society, and more about healthy longevity.
Less about the burden and the pressure and more about the reward of getting this right.
Because our final years should be an act of enjoyment. Not a task of endurance.
That positive framing is important because too often as a society we sweep these issues under the carpet.
We dont like to think about getting older. We dont like to think about our bodies failing. So we dont give healthy ageing the attention it deserves.
Which brings me to the policy question.
For most of the 70 years the NHS has been in existence weve focused on life span.
This has seen extraordinary successes.
Mass-vaccination. The collapse in the adult smoking rate from 45% in the 1970s to 14% today.
But as the NHS enters its eighth decade, it needs to focus more on health span: the number of years a person can expect to live healthily and independently.
In our manifesto we committed to an extra 5 healthy years by 2035. This is the primary long-term clinical goal weve set the NHS.
Both parts are important: extra years and healthy years. Adding years to life, and life to years.
The next question is how do we get there?
Today I want to touch on 3 things.
The first is place and its relationship to people.
Because however you choose to measure the evidence is clear: your chance of a healthy old age is closely tied to where you live.
A man born in Blackpool can expect only 53 years of healthy life, while a man born in Buckingham gets 68.
Thats wrong.
Tackling this postcode inequality matters to this government. Its what we mean when we talk about levelling up.
The underlying factors are a complex interaction between demography and economy.
But because healthcare inequalities are geographically concentrated, it means we can take a targeted approach.
This starts with improving access to healthcare.
50 million more GP appointments. 50,000 more nurses. 40 new hospitals. Its what those flagship commitments are all about.
And we can boost access even further: by using more of our brilliant community pharmacists as a first port of call for people seeking primary care, by using technology to reduce the burden on clinicians, by having everyone in every part of the NHS operating right at the top of their licence.
But having the right NHS services is just one part of building healthier places.
Its about warm, properly insulated homes, low-crime neighbourhoods, and action on the environment like our cross-government work on air quality.
Its the kind of urban design that supports healthy living, more opportunities for walking and cycling bearing down on the 40% of car journeys that are less than 2 miles.
This is something that the Prime Minister is strongly personally committed to, and our announcement yesterday of 250 miles of new cycling routes is another milestone on that journey.
One of the biggest health impacts a place can have is whether it supports good local jobs.
By good jobs I mean jobs that are purposeful and rewarding, not just well paid. Where employers invest in things like mental health or muscular-skeletal support as part and parcel of being a good employer.
And this absolutely includes jobs in the NHS.
As one of the countrys biggest employers, the NHS can have an outsized impact on the opportunities available to local communities.
For example, Im proud of the work were doing with the Princes Trust to get 10,000 school leavers job-ready for roles in the NHS and social care.
The second part of this agenda and closely linked to place is a recognition that healthy longevity is not just the NHS.
Only around a quarter of what leads to longer, healthier lives is the result of what goes on in hospitals.
The rest is down to genetics, the environment, and the lifestyle choices we make.
Yes, we can and we should use the infrastructure of the NHS to help support healthier choices. Measures like dedicated alcohol care teams in hospitals, or targeted anti-smoking interventions aimed at CVD patients.
But increasingly we understand that there are effective, non-clinical approaches to healthier living and ageing.
Look at the use of homeshares to tackle loneliness. Bringing together people with spare rooms and people who are happy to chat and lend a hand around the house in return for affordable accommodation.
Or take the social prescribing revolution.
A growing body of evidence suggests that activities like joining a book group or singing in a choir or learning to play an instrument can have huge health and wellbeing benefits.
Benefits that include everything from sleep quality to reduced anxiety to improved memory.
Over the next few years we want to bring these kinds of treatments to almost a million people.
Weve set up a National Academy for Social Prescribing to aimed at making the NHS a world-leader in this field.
Third, and this wont be a surprise coming from me, is better technology.
More proactive, preventative healthcare depends on a strong data infrastructure. On being able to link disparate datasets from different parts of the system to create a complete narrative about a persons care.
Lets take an example.
We know that atrial fibrillation irregular heartbeat is a common cause of stroke, but the risk varies from person to person.
By analysing lots of different data points for atrial fibrillation patients age, frailty, previous bleeding and so on you can create an individualised risk score.
In turn, this allows GPs to take pre-emptive action, for example prescribing anticoagulants.
In the past assembling all the information needed to produce that score was so time-consuming as to be impractical. It was held on different databases in different formats, often as free text rather than machine-readable code.
But now we can do it with AI.
In fact, a team right here at Kings Dr Dan Bean and Dr Paul Scott have built an AI tool thats able to replicate the analysis of human experts in a fraction of the time.
Adult social care is increasingly a site of healthtech innovation.
Internet-linked devices can help people live at home for longer and stay connected to family and friends.
They can also help providers deliver smarter, more responsive care.
For example, theres a provider up in Warwickshire WCS Care doing great things with acoustic monitoring.
The tech lets the staff hear crying or breathing problems, sending an alert to a monitoring station staffed by a night manager.
It means that staff arent knocking on residents doors every hour and disturbing people.
Everyone sleeps better, and staff estimate that night-time falls have reduced by 34%.
Interestingly, when they analysed the data they found that lots of people were staying awake late into the night.
This led the care home to set up a wide awake club to support night owls and get them back into a healthier rhythm.
I want to spread this kind of innovation far and wide, and Ive set up a dedicated adult social care unit in NHSX.
This will focus on setting technical standards, improving data sharing, enhancing skills and fixing the digital infrastructure.
Like longevity itself, better tech is an opportunity we wholeheartedly embrace.
Ill end where I began, and this is the message I want to leave you with.
Longer life is not a problem to be tackled but a goal to be pursued.
And not just for government, or even the NHS, but for each and every one of us.
Theres a huge prize ahead if we get this right: 5 more years of healthy life. More enjoyment out of life. More time for the things that matter most in life.
Im looking forward to working with you all to make it happen.
The rest is here:
Adding years to life and life to years: our plan to increase healthy longevity - GOV.UK
- Inside the longevity lab that aims to help people live longer - TODAY - February 27th, 2024
- I'm a longevity expert these are the 4 supplements I take every day to fight aging - New York Post - February 27th, 2024
- The Longest Living People In the World All Abide by the 'Power 9' Rule - GQ - February 27th, 2024
- Im a longevity expert and there's six things you should do daily if you want to live longer' - Daily Record - February 27th, 2024
- Reducing the metabolic burden of rRNA synthesis promotes healthy longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans - Nature.com - February 27th, 2024
- Presidio Federal's Thad Anderson Receives WashingtonExec's Longevity Award - WashingtonExec - February 27th, 2024
- Faces of wealth, intellect and longevity, as revealed by veteran face reader - The Korea Herald - February 27th, 2024
- I'm a longevity expert here are the best foods to eat for a long and healthy life - New York Post - February 27th, 2024
- Danny Care: 'Pilates Has Helped with the Longevity of My Career' - Men's Health UK - February 27th, 2024
- Give Me This Mountain | Tips for Spiritual Longevity - Harvest.org - February 27th, 2024
- Chris Hemsworth did a 4-day fast to reverse aging. His trainer played a cheeky joke to test his willpower. - Yahoo Canada Shine On - February 27th, 2024
- Pet longevity is a spark about to turn into a wildfire - Longevity.Technology - February 27th, 2024
- The Longevity of Bitcoin's Bull Run; Polkadot and Up-and-Coming Memecoin Draw Crowds - Analytics Insight - February 27th, 2024
- 'This is weird': Experts 'shocked' by record-breaking longevity of Death Valley's phantom lake - Livescience.com - February 27th, 2024
- Understanding the Longevity of SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Responses to Infection and Vaccination - Medriva - February 27th, 2024
- Experts agree: The fasting-mimicking diet may be the key to longevity - Longevity.Technology - February 27th, 2024
- Daily habits of a longevity expert : TED Radio Hour - NPR - December 30th, 2023
- Why does fruitcake last so long? Ingredients and preparation of the dessert play into its longevity - Fox News - December 30th, 2023
- Interviews of 2023: the longevity companies - Longevity.Technology - December 30th, 2023
- Nancy Wilson Discusses Longevity of Heart & Family Drama Within the Band Ahead of New Year's Eve Show in Seattle - American Songwriter - December 30th, 2023
- What Will It Take To Make Super-Aging Not So Super-White? - Well+Good - December 30th, 2023
- Arteta on Moyes and longevity in coaching | Quotes | News - Arsenal.com - December 30th, 2023
- New Years resolution guide: 5 steps to a healthier 2024 from a longevity expert - Fox News - December 30th, 2023
- Interviews of 2023: the longevity visionaries - Longevity.Technology - December 30th, 2023
- The Top 11 Longevity Tips Of 2023, From The mindbodygreen Podcast | mindbodygreen - mindbodygreen - December 30th, 2023
- Why LeBron James' longevity is unmatched in the NBA | Good Word with Goodwill - Yahoo Sports - December 30th, 2023
- Short vs long fasts: What is the ideal length for longevity? - Longevity.Technology - December 30th, 2023
- Centenarians share the secrets to living a long, healthy life - Fox Business - December 30th, 2023
- Rob Lowe on Turning 60 Soon & His Secret to Career Longevity (Exclusive) - Extra - December 30th, 2023
- Investigating the longevity and diversity of South Asian miniature traditions - STIRworld - December 30th, 2023
- The Silent Threat of Hypochondria: Impact on Longevity and Health - Medriva - December 30th, 2023
- Longevity: What lifestyle habits could help you live to 100? - December 22nd, 2023
- Aiming for longevity - Harvard Health - December 22nd, 2023
- How Long Can We Live? - The New York Times - December 22nd, 2023
- This Was the Year of Obsessing Over Longevity - GQ - December 22nd, 2023
- Menopause Age Looms Over Women. Efforts to Prevent it Could Extend Fertility. - Bloomberg - December 22nd, 2023
- Longevity: Is exercise the key to a longer, healthier life? - Medical News Today - December 22nd, 2023
- The #1 Sign You'll Live to 100, According to Longevity Experts - Gwinnettdailypost.com - December 22nd, 2023
- Cowboys Take On Dolphins, How Longevity Factors Into Hall of Fame Election and More - The 33rd Team - December 22nd, 2023
- Longevity Hacks Are Coming to Your Gym - WSJ - The Wall Street Journal - December 22nd, 2023
- 106-year-old woman shares hobbies, habits she says helped longevity - Business Insider - December 22nd, 2023
- Tips to Improve Your Health & Longevity in the New Year - KATU - December 22nd, 2023
- NN Group gets 13bn longevity risk transfer with Prudential and Swiss Re - Reinsurance News - December 22nd, 2023
- A fresh perspective on longevity - savannahmagazine - December 22nd, 2023
- Este Lauder targets age reversal with Stanford Center on Longevity partnership - Cosmetics Business - December 22nd, 2023
- Longevity means taking a proactive approach to prevention - Longevity.Technology - December 22nd, 2023
- Decoding Longevity: Centenarian Traits and Aging Research - BNN Breaking - December 22nd, 2023
- Brain Age: The Science of Cognitive Longevity - BNN Breaking - December 22nd, 2023
- The Role of Exercise in Longevity: A Holistic Approach to Health and Fitness - Medriva - December 22nd, 2023
- Get interventions to market and to people faster and cheaper - Longevity.Technology - December 22nd, 2023
- Humans Could Live up to 150 Years, New Research Suggests - May 17th, 2023
- The ingredients for a longer life - BBC Future - May 17th, 2023
- Life Expectancy by State 2023 - World Population Review - May 17th, 2023
- About Us - Fountain Life - May 17th, 2023
- Longevity: The Keys to Slow the Aging Process - Dr. Axe - March 29th, 2023
- "I got a 20-year contract. Giannis is going to play for 20 more years" - Mike Budenholzer on the longevity of Giannis Antetokounmpo and the... - January 23rd, 2023
- "I think Nadal has been doing a great job of that in the last four or five years": McEnroe believes Murray needs to shorten points for... - January 23rd, 2023
- Jon Voight is 'blessed' to have had such a long Hollywood career - Yakima Herald-Republic - November 7th, 2022
- USD Index to sink to 103 by end-2023 amid greater certainty and longevity of Dollar downtrend Westpac - FXStreet - November 7th, 2022
- Retirement Calculator | Northwestern Mutual - October 15th, 2022
- The Longevity Investors Conference Gstaad brought together longevity experts and deep-pocketed investors - Cointelegraph - October 15th, 2022
- Do you think ageing can be reversed? Here are 12 longevity startups to watch - Sifted - October 15th, 2022
- 'SNL' Gig Was a Risk Rob Lowe Credits for His Longevity: 'I Had People in My Life Telling Me - TheWrap - October 15th, 2022
- Wellness and longevity brand Serotonin Centers to open in Nashville - Tennessean - October 15th, 2022
- Lesley Stahl on longevity of '60 Minutes': 'That clock is still there' - USA TODAY - October 15th, 2022
- 4 Recipes With Corn, Beans, and SquashThe Three Sisters Ingredients That Blue Zone Centenarians in Costa Rica Eat Every Day - Well+Good - October 15th, 2022
- The Search for a Pill That Can Help Dogsand HumansLive Longer - WIRED - October 15th, 2022
- Supontis vs Dogecoin, Which Cryptocurrency Has Greater Longevity In The Market? - Coinpedia Fintech News - October 15th, 2022
- Louisville Zoo says goodbye to one of world's oldest gorillas - Evening News and Tribune - October 15th, 2022
- 'Prolong your lifespan': 5 'cheapest' foods that can boost longevity - Express - October 15th, 2022
- FOXO Technologies Announces First Distribution Partner and Begins Product Rollout in California; Expands Executive Team With Insurance Industry Talent... - October 15th, 2022
- Timeless: USM Arts and Sciences Faculty Members Ball, Meade Cite Love for Students, Teaching as Keys to Longevity in Profession - The University of... - October 15th, 2022
- The Best Workout To Slow Aging and Promote Longevity, Science Reveals Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That - September 4th, 2022
- Share your story of loss or survival as part of The Longevity Project series on cancer - Summit Daily - September 4th, 2022
- Drinking two cups of tea a day is linked to boosted longevity - Women's Health UK - September 4th, 2022
- How the Asphalt Industry Can Improve Pavement Longevity - For Construction Pros - September 4th, 2022
- Longevity: Playing the Long Game in Ministry - The Gospel Coalition - September 4th, 2022
- Know 3 longevity secrets of the last USSR President Mikhail Gorbachev who died at the ripe age of 91 - Times Now - September 4th, 2022
- Tyrese Maxey Lauds LeBron James, Serena Williams, And Tom Brady For Their Longevity: "What Is In The Water Bron, Serena, And TB12... - September 4th, 2022
- 'There Should be Some Reward for Longevity in This Game'-Kiwi Pacer Wants Change In Central Contracts - News18 - September 4th, 2022