Unequal pandemic, fairer recovery – The COVID-19 impact inquiry report

This report, produced by the Health Foundation's COVID-19 impact inquiry, is a comprehensive review of the factors that fuelled the UK’s COVID-19 death toll.

Although the pandemic is still ongoing, this report explores these impacts and the range of different, intersecting factors influencing them. It provides an initial assessment of the effects of the pandemic using evidence available up to May 2021.

It highlights that the pandemic has revealed stark differences in the health of the working age population – those younger than 65 in the poorest 10% of areas in England were almost four times more likely to die from COVID-19 than those in wealthiest.

Drawing on a broad range of sources, the inquiry report considers two main questions:

  • How were people’s experiences of the pandemic influenced by their pre-existing health and health inequalities?
  • What is the likely impact of actions taken in response to the pandemic on the nation’s health and health inequalities – now and in the future?

Although it is beyond the intended scope to propose specific recommendations, the findings of this inquiry can direct policymakers at national and local level to some core issues that need attention as they take the recovery forward.

The report can be downloaded here,

Local VCSE organisations involved in the health and wellbeing agenda may find the report useful for funding bids and strategic planning.