Responding to the government's levelling up white paper, the deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery said:

"We welcome the publication of this white paper which sets out a series of ambitions for the government's levelling up agenda.

"Regional inequalities in domains such as wealth, education, and housing demonstrate how social and economic inequalities are powerful drivers of people's health, and it is helpful that these 'spatial disparities' are recognised in the white paper. However, we are disappointed to see that the announcements on health are limited to individual behaviour and healthy lifestyles. This fails to recognise the deeply entrenched and complex factors influencing poor health and obesity. There is little mention of how the NHS, far from simply being a treatment service, has a key role to play in contributing to better socioeconomic outcomes in all regions of the country.

"Health inequalities are a priority for trusts. The paper rightly points out the importance of tackling inequalities faced by deprived and marginalised populations but fails to make the connection with the forthcoming health disparities white paper, despite the clear link between socioeconomic and health inequality.

"The paper reiterates previously announced schemes, such as the new hospital programme and the commitment to build 40 new hospitals by 2030. Currently a question mark hangs over future funding for these schemes. However, if these ambitions are delivered, these new hospitals will be key anchor institutions for local communities, and the completion of these rebuilds will bring huge benefit to local economies. It is important that trusts are given the opportunity to share their experiences, skills and knowledge to make this programme a success, and that the government does all it can to help trusts progress with their plans as quickly as possible.

"However, while investment in healthcare facilities is critical, as one of the largest employers in the country, trusts have a wider role in levelling up, in terms of providing opportunities for employment and training, and contributing to environmental sustainability, access to green spaces, and the way they procure goods and services.

"Lastly, we welcome the ambitious target to close the gap in healthy life expectancy between the richest and poorest areas over the next decade. However, it is unclear how the initiatives set out in today's paper will achieve this, and without a clear cross-government strategy for health, deeply entrenched health inequalities will not improve."