A Fair and Healthier Waltham Forest

Today (Thursday 8 December) our internationally respected partners the Marmot Institute has published a local report about health inequalities affecting our residents. 

We are the first local authority in London to work with Professor Marmot and his team of researchers, after asking them to examine the many factors which affect the health and wellbeing of our residents, following the pandemic. The report closely focused on: 

• life expectancy and health outcomes 
• factors that impact on health, like access to housing, food, education and jobs 
• residents views about the factors affecting their wellbeing, including access to health services 

The findings highlight that life expectancy for residents in the south of Waltham Forest is up to 7 years lower than in the north. For example, Lea Bridge has the lowest life expectancy and Chapel End has the highest life expectancy.  

The findings from the report also highlights how this gap in life expectancy and health outcomes can impact on residents leading to issues which can affect their everyday lives such as how they get access to housing, jobs, food and education. 

The council welcomes the Marmot report and is already acting on the recommendations. Early next year it will publish a full action plan, working with its key delivery partners, including health services and the police as well as residents and community groups. 

Hear from Cllr Grace Williams, Leader of the Council with a response to the report and the work we are doing in the local community to ensure residents are able to live happier and healthy lives and hear some some of our local residents' and service providers' stories.

The Marmot institute's research builds on the findings of the State of the Borough Report we published during the pandemic.