Here’s a quick look at Lord Darzi’s Independent Investigation into the NHS, which was published today, and what it says (and doesn’t say) about food, diet-related ill-health (a huge opportunity for reducing the NHS bill, while tackling emissions):

What it DOES say…

• That ‘bold action on obesity & and regulation of the food industry’ has been ‘sorely lacking’, and that this is in contrast to smoking, where health outcomes improved following greater regulation. See p65 full quote.
• It recognises the link between increasing levels of poverty and poor health related to diet.
• The NHS must stick to its net zero ambitions, and ‘health and climate are mutually reinforcing goals’ (it gives the example of clean air improving health, but mostly the reference is to the NHS estate and supply chains).

What it does NOT say…

• The scale of diet-related ill health and how much it costs the NHS (£19.2bn/ year).
• The fact there is currently nothing linking the health service, social care, and wider food system.
• That unhealthy food is often offered to patients in hospitals.
• The link between the NHS’s net zero ambitions and food and diet.

Also, if anyone heard the report’s author, Lord Darzi of Denham, on BBC R4 this morning, you will have heard him say that he doesn’t think the NHS is suffering from under-funding, but instead the money needs to be spend better. That may well be true (I’m not qualified to say), but he compared the UK to Spain and Japan, which spend a lower proportions of their GDP on health than us, but get better health outcomes. I’m not sure about all disease risks, but do we potentially have more ill people to look after, due to diet? Adult obesity rates: UK 27.6%, Spain 16%, Japan 5.6%.

USEFUL LINKS:

You can read the whole NHS investigation.

And also listen to Lord Darzi of Denham, on BBC R4 this morning.

Also, here’s more on NHS spending.