Lord Ouseley – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Ouseley on 2016-02-01.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what analysis has been undertaken about the impact and demands for public health and care services due to loneliness and isolation suffered by pensioners, in the light of the Local Government Association’s estimate that more than one million people aged over 65 are lonely.
Lord Prior of Brampton
The Department recognises that loneliness can have a negative impact on a person’s general health and has prioritised prevention through the Care Act 2014. The Department has not undertaken an analysis of the impact loneliness places on public health and care services. We do take account of research in developing our policies, including or example, the Campaign to End Loneliness report Loneliness: the State We’re In (2012) which shows that loneliness has an effect on mortality that is similar in size to smoking 15 cigarettes a day, is worse for us than obesity, and is also associated with conditions such as cardiovascular disease. A copy of the Campaign to End Loneliness report is attached.
The Local Government Association has highlighted that loneliness is a complex problem. A range of interventions and solutions are required to identify adults who are lonely or socially isolated and to provide them with the support they require.
As part of Public Health England’s programme of work to support local action on health inequalities, we commissioned the UCL Institute of Health Equity to produce a series of resources setting out practical approaches that local areas could adopt to reduce health inequalities. One resource in the series focuses on social isolation across the lifecourse. It provides information and guidance to support local authorities, NHS clinical commissioning groups and their stakeholders to develop effective strategies to prevent and reduce social isolation. A copy of Reducing social isolation across the lifecourse is attached.
