It is clear from the figures in the Kings’ Fund report on health inequalities that the people most in need of practical support to adopt healthier lifestyle habits are simply not getting it.
Areas of public health like obesity must be tackled at the root, with a focus on supporting poorer and more deprived communities to develop life-long healthy habits. Giving families access to free information and support about healthy living through evidence-based courses such as Mend, is an effective and value-for-money approach to improve public health and reduce health inequalities.
Obesity already costs the NHS £5.1bn a year, so continued investment in and provision of services, which treat and prevent obesity within poorer communities, is critical.
If current trends are allowed to continue, this will lead to more aggravated health inequalities in later life for our children.
We hope these figures – and recent calls to create a level playing field for all children as an Olympic legacy – will provide a renewed focus for the government to ensure that all children across the UK have the same opportunities and healthy start in life that they deserve.
Harry MacMillan, chief executive, Mend (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition... Do it!)
Childcare voucher cap drive
Busy Bees Benefits is currently campaigning to increase the childcare voucher cap allowance from £55 to £75 per week to ?help make childcare more affordable for working parents.
In addition to helping parents, childcare vouchers help businesses to attract and retain experienced staff, which is particularly important in the current tough economic climate.
Busy Bees Benefits has suggested that the government increase the allowance, as the current cap has not changed since 2006, even though childcare costs have continued to rise.
With the cap at £75, basic rate taxpayers taking the maximum amount in childcare vouchers could save more than £300 extra a year, with total savings amounting to more than £1,200 per parent, per year.
At the centre of the campaign is an e-petition. The aim is to achieve 100,000 signatures to make the issue eligible for debate in the House of Commons, leading to a policy change in the 2013 budget.
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/31669
John Woodward, managing director, Busy Bees Group
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