Liverpool City Council’s Public Health team has published its Year 2 update on the State of Health in the City: Liverpool 2040 report, outlining significant system-wide progress and reaffirming the city’s commitment to tackling health inequalities. Delivered at the April Cabinet Meeting, it was emphasised the importance of this work, recognising it as a core pillar of the Council’s long-term ambition for a fairer, healthier Liverpool.
Over the past year, Liverpool has achieved Marmot City Status, secured more than £1 million of new youth work investment, delivered a refreshed Good Food Plan and reduced smoking prevalence to the national average for the first time.
The Neighbourhood Health Model continues to strengthen local relationships, including the introduction of a mobile breast screening unit to improve early detection. Progress on housing and homelessness includes reduced reliance on temporary accommodation and investment to retrofit and reuse homes.
The new all age addictions service, RIVER, is now live with early reductions in alcohol specific hospital admissions, and Adult Social Care has been awarded a ‘Good’ rating by the Care Quality Commission.
Liverpool continues to influence national policy on child poverty and tobacco control, while the Women’s Health Taskforce has published its first report ahead of a citywide Women’s Health conference in May 2026.
Evidence-led decision-making is strengthening across the Council through HDRC Liverpool, one of only 30 national programmes of its kind, which is embedding research capacity in partnership with the city’s universities and community organisations.
Despite this momentum, Liverpool remains one of the most deprived local authorities in England. Healthy life expectancy continues to be around 5.8 years below the national average, the gap in life expectancy across the city remains 15 years, and a baby girl born in Kensington, Liverpool still experiences 13 fewer years of good health than one born in Kensington, London. However, sustained reductions in smoking, alcohol-related harm and self-harm demonstrate early movement in the right direction.
Councillor Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council, shared:
“This update shows that Liverpool is moving from ambition to action. By tackling the root causes of poor health and focusing relentlessly on prevention, we are starting to shift outcomes for our residents. While we are clear about the scale of the challenge we still face, the progress being made across neighbourhoods, services, and partnerships gives us confidence that Liverpool is on track to deliver real, measurable improvements in health and wellbeing, and to ensure every community can share in a fairer, healthier future.”
Councillor Harry Doyle, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing, and Culture, said:
“Cabinet is absolutely clear that the State of Health in Liverpool 2040 work is not just another strategy. It is a defining programme for the future of our city. It gives us the evidence, the urgency and the shared focus we need to confront inequalities that have persisted for generations. The progress in this year’s update shows what is possible when we bring the whole-system together behind a common purpose.”
