Alex Kennedy
@kennedyalex.bsky.social
Policy person at the Health Foundation - working on wider determinants of health, missions etc.
Previous jobs about mental health and homelessness. E17.
Previous jobs about mental health and homelessness. E17.
Reposted by Alex Kennedy
With the government's health mission missing in action, @jenniferthf.bsky.social & @thekingsfund.bsky.social Sarah Woolnough reflect on diluted ambitions & call for a prevention revolution
Read our full response⬇️
Read our full response⬇️
A prevention revolution – or another missed opportunity?
The UK’s health is in trouble, and it’s holding us back, write the chief executives of the Health Foundation and The King's Fund.
www.health.org.uk
September 6, 2025 at 10:20 AM
With the government's health mission missing in action, @jenniferthf.bsky.social & @thekingsfund.bsky.social Sarah Woolnough reflect on diluted ambitions & call for a prevention revolution
Read our full response⬇️
Read our full response⬇️
New @healthfoundation.bsky.social blog from Nicholas Kofi Adjei (@liverpooluni.bsky.social).
...showing how family circumstances influence young people’s mental health AND the protective effects of good emotional support.
www.health.org.uk/features-and...
...showing how family circumstances influence young people’s mental health AND the protective effects of good emotional support.
www.health.org.uk/features-and...
September 3, 2025 at 2:06 PM
New @healthfoundation.bsky.social blog from Nicholas Kofi Adjei (@liverpooluni.bsky.social).
...showing how family circumstances influence young people’s mental health AND the protective effects of good emotional support.
www.health.org.uk/features-and...
...showing how family circumstances influence young people’s mental health AND the protective effects of good emotional support.
www.health.org.uk/features-and...
Young people's mental health is under serious strain.
Although emotional support from parents etc is crucial, it's often missing from media and policy debate.
NEW paper with evidence on the value of emotional support
& how factors like poverty and employment affect it
& what govt should do.
Although emotional support from parents etc is crucial, it's often missing from media and policy debate.
NEW paper with evidence on the value of emotional support
& how factors like poverty and employment affect it
& what govt should do.
NEW: Good emotional support is vital to young people's mental health but is impacted by factors including poverty and parental employment patterns.
Our briefing explores findings from our 3-year research programme about how social and economic factors shape emotional support ⬇️
Our briefing explores findings from our 3-year research programme about how social and economic factors shape emotional support ⬇️
How does emotional support affect young people’s mental health?
Learnings and policy recommendations from the Health Foundation’s Emotional Support for Young People programme.
bit.ly
August 27, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Young people's mental health is under serious strain.
Although emotional support from parents etc is crucial, it's often missing from media and policy debate.
NEW paper with evidence on the value of emotional support
& how factors like poverty and employment affect it
& what govt should do.
Although emotional support from parents etc is crucial, it's often missing from media and policy debate.
NEW paper with evidence on the value of emotional support
& how factors like poverty and employment affect it
& what govt should do.
For anyone interested in health inequalities, this POSTnote briefing is well worth a read.
It's on regional differences in Healthy Life Expectancy - but takes a broad perspective - looking at what causes disparities and options to tackle them.
post.parliament.uk/research-bri...
It's on regional differences in Healthy Life Expectancy - but takes a broad perspective - looking at what causes disparities and options to tackle them.
post.parliament.uk/research-bri...
Geographical differences in healthy life expectancy
Healthy life expectancy varies widely across England. It is linked to the conditions in which people are born, live and work. How can prevention and policy interventions reduce inequalities?
post.parliament.uk
July 25, 2025 at 3:33 PM
For anyone interested in health inequalities, this POSTnote briefing is well worth a read.
It's on regional differences in Healthy Life Expectancy - but takes a broad perspective - looking at what causes disparities and options to tackle them.
post.parliament.uk/research-bri...
It's on regional differences in Healthy Life Expectancy - but takes a broad perspective - looking at what causes disparities and options to tackle them.
post.parliament.uk/research-bri...
Reposted by Alex Kennedy
In its 10 Year Health Plan, the government recommitted to halving the gap in healthy life expectancy (HLE) between the poorest and richest regions. But how? Our new analysis with the ONS points to the underlying factors which any plan will need to take account of. 🧵
July 19, 2025 at 8:53 AM
In its 10 Year Health Plan, the government recommitted to halving the gap in healthy life expectancy (HLE) between the poorest and richest regions. But how? Our new analysis with the ONS points to the underlying factors which any plan will need to take account of. 🧵
Reposted by Alex Kennedy
Health inequalities are cutting lives short by up to 16 years in parts of the UK. 🔴
We don’t think this is fair – and neither do the 7️⃣7️⃣ Health Equals Parliamentary Champions.
Tomorrow, we're heading to Parliament to reflect on how to #MakeHealthEqual a reality.
Stay tuned for more. 👀
We don’t think this is fair – and neither do the 7️⃣7️⃣ Health Equals Parliamentary Champions.
Tomorrow, we're heading to Parliament to reflect on how to #MakeHealthEqual a reality.
Stay tuned for more. 👀
July 14, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Health inequalities are cutting lives short by up to 16 years in parts of the UK. 🔴
We don’t think this is fair – and neither do the 7️⃣7️⃣ Health Equals Parliamentary Champions.
Tomorrow, we're heading to Parliament to reflect on how to #MakeHealthEqual a reality.
Stay tuned for more. 👀
We don’t think this is fair – and neither do the 7️⃣7️⃣ Health Equals Parliamentary Champions.
Tomorrow, we're heading to Parliament to reflect on how to #MakeHealthEqual a reality.
Stay tuned for more. 👀
Is it new news that the government plans to "restore the value of Healthy Start from financial year 2026 to 2027" - as set out in the 10 Year Plan?
I'd not spotted that before, but could have missed it
I'd not spotted that before, but could have missed it
July 3, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Is it new news that the government plans to "restore the value of Healthy Start from financial year 2026 to 2027" - as set out in the 10 Year Plan?
I'd not spotted that before, but could have missed it
I'd not spotted that before, but could have missed it
Reposted by Alex Kennedy
NHS 10-year plan announces a "moonshot to end the obesity epidemic". So what's in it?
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
July 3, 2025 at 4:20 PM
NHS 10-year plan announces a "moonshot to end the obesity epidemic". So what's in it?
Great to see the new report (supported by @healthfoundation.bsky.social) from FrameWorksUK on how mindsets that underpin public attitudes are shifting
frameworksuk.org/resources/mo...
Lots more interesting insights in the paper, but some key points below...
🧵
frameworksuk.org/resources/mo...
Lots more interesting insights in the paper, but some key points below...
🧵
Moving Mindsets: Emerging opportunities to shift culture on health, wealth and government - FrameWorks UK
This report contains six key findings about the state of British culture – and what this could mean for those of us working to change culture nationwide.
frameworksuk.org
June 26, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Great to see the new report (supported by @healthfoundation.bsky.social) from FrameWorksUK on how mindsets that underpin public attitudes are shifting
frameworksuk.org/resources/mo...
Lots more interesting insights in the paper, but some key points below...
🧵
frameworksuk.org/resources/mo...
Lots more interesting insights in the paper, but some key points below...
🧵
Three observations from Wes Streeting’s health inequalities speech in Blackpool that I went to this morning 🧵
June 25, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Three observations from Wes Streeting’s health inequalities speech in Blackpool that I went to this morning 🧵
Reposted by Alex Kennedy
What happened to the government’s health mission? Good health isn't just built in hospitals but shaped by living conditions - from adequate income to secure housing.
Alex Kennedy outlines the need for a cross-government plan to improve health and reduce health inequalities⬇️
https://bit.ly/3TorQHg
Alex Kennedy outlines the need for a cross-government plan to improve health and reduce health inequalities⬇️
https://bit.ly/3TorQHg
June 14, 2025 at 11:00 AM
What happened to the government’s health mission? Good health isn't just built in hospitals but shaped by living conditions - from adequate income to secure housing.
Alex Kennedy outlines the need for a cross-government plan to improve health and reduce health inequalities⬇️
https://bit.ly/3TorQHg
Alex Kennedy outlines the need for a cross-government plan to improve health and reduce health inequalities⬇️
https://bit.ly/3TorQHg
So we've had the Spending Review and the 10 Year Plan is due soon. But what about a *cross government* plan for health?
My blog hoping that the govt rediscovers some of the ambition and breadth of the original health mission.
www.health.org.uk/features-and...
My blog hoping that the govt rediscovers some of the ambition and breadth of the original health mission.
www.health.org.uk/features-and...
www.health.org.uk
June 13, 2025 at 3:14 PM
So we've had the Spending Review and the 10 Year Plan is due soon. But what about a *cross government* plan for health?
My blog hoping that the govt rediscovers some of the ambition and breadth of the original health mission.
www.health.org.uk/features-and...
My blog hoping that the govt rediscovers some of the ambition and breadth of the original health mission.
www.health.org.uk/features-and...
Reposted by Alex Kennedy
Useful graph to get a snapshot of departmental (non capital) spending and priorities.
June 11, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Useful graph to get a snapshot of departmental (non capital) spending and priorities.
Reposted by Alex Kennedy
NEW: Our analysis with @lshtm.bsky.social highlights how the UK’s health compares increasingly poorly with other high-income countries.
The findings show that improvement is both possible and urgently needed ⬇
The findings show that improvement is both possible and urgently needed ⬇
UK mortality trends and international comparisons
New research reveals an increasingly concerning picture of health in the UK.
bit.ly
May 20, 2025 at 10:58 AM
NEW: Our analysis with @lshtm.bsky.social highlights how the UK’s health compares increasingly poorly with other high-income countries.
The findings show that improvement is both possible and urgently needed ⬇
The findings show that improvement is both possible and urgently needed ⬇
Reposted by Alex Kennedy
Reflections from our #healthinequalities conference, so much positivity, challenge and the raw materials for change - currently missing a clear #plan, #framework or #strategy to reach the govt's welcome goal of halving the healthy life expectancy gap www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-...
Health Inequalities: Impatient For Change From A Government Committed To Tackling Them | The King's Fund
Dave Buck reflects on The King’s Fund’s health inequalities conference and stresses that the government must do more to set out its approach if it is truly committed to addressing its mission to halve...
www.kingsfund.org.uk
May 9, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Reflections from our #healthinequalities conference, so much positivity, challenge and the raw materials for change - currently missing a clear #plan, #framework or #strategy to reach the govt's welcome goal of halving the healthy life expectancy gap www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-...
Reposted by Alex Kennedy
Today we’ve published research on rumoured options for easing the 2-child limit without fully scrapping it. In short, none of the options rumoured to be on the table is an acceptable solution and most would bring cliff edges or distortions into the system www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications...
Limited ambition? • Resolution Foundation
Abolishing the two-child limit would be the most cost-effective way to reduce child poverty; if it is not scrapped, we project that 4.8 million children (34 per cent) will be in poverty by 2029-30, in...
www.resolutionfoundation.org
May 16, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Today we’ve published research on rumoured options for easing the 2-child limit without fully scrapping it. In short, none of the options rumoured to be on the table is an acceptable solution and most would bring cliff edges or distortions into the system www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications...
Announcement today that Govt consulting on strengthening the Soft Drink Industry Levy - closing 21 July:
www.gov.uk/government/c...
Ministerial statement here: questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat...
www.gov.uk/government/c...
Ministerial statement here: questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat...
April 28, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Announcement today that Govt consulting on strengthening the Soft Drink Industry Levy - closing 21 July:
www.gov.uk/government/c...
Ministerial statement here: questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat...
www.gov.uk/government/c...
Ministerial statement here: questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat...
Reposted by Alex Kennedy
A tricky thing about modern society is that no one has any idea when they don’t die.
Like, the number of lives saved by controlling air pollution in America is probably over 200,000 per year, but the number of people who think their life was saved by controlling air pollution is zero.
Like, the number of lives saved by controlling air pollution in America is probably over 200,000 per year, but the number of people who think their life was saved by controlling air pollution is zero.
April 7, 2025 at 4:13 AM
A tricky thing about modern society is that no one has any idea when they don’t die.
Like, the number of lives saved by controlling air pollution in America is probably over 200,000 per year, but the number of people who think their life was saved by controlling air pollution is zero.
Like, the number of lives saved by controlling air pollution in America is probably over 200,000 per year, but the number of people who think their life was saved by controlling air pollution is zero.
Reposted by Alex Kennedy
Excellent new paper from Demos and @healthfoundation.bsky.social setting out the practical steps govt should take to create a new classification for preventative spending (PDEL). Easily the most detailed plan published to date
demos.co.uk/research/cou...
demos.co.uk/research/cou...
Counting What Matters: How to classify, account and track spending for prevention
Demos is Britain’s leading cross-party think-tank. We produce original research, publish innovative thinkers and host thought-provoking events.
demos.co.uk
December 29, 2024 at 10:28 PM
Excellent new paper from Demos and @healthfoundation.bsky.social setting out the practical steps govt should take to create a new classification for preventative spending (PDEL). Easily the most detailed plan published to date
demos.co.uk/research/cou...
demos.co.uk/research/cou...
Reposted by Alex Kennedy
Went to the speech this morning. A few thoughts. TL;DR - I thought it was really good, but of course lots of tricky challenges to work through. 🧵
I know people will be irked by the word ‘start-up’ here but I do think this is a meaningful step in the right direction. The basic principles they’re gesturing to must be right. 1/n
Government to set out £100m plan to make state 'like a start-up'
As well as urging a
www.bbc.co.uk
December 9, 2024 at 11:57 AM
Went to the speech this morning. A few thoughts. TL;DR - I thought it was really good, but of course lots of tricky challenges to work through. 🧵
Reposted by Alex Kennedy
Chief medical officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty will oversee the management of the Department for Health [AND SOCIAL CARE!] pending the appointment of a new Permanent Secretary.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Prime Minister appoints Sir Chris Wormald as new Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service
Sir Chris Wormald has been appointed to succeed Simon Case as the new Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service
www.gov.uk
December 2, 2024 at 1:21 PM
Chief medical officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty will oversee the management of the Department for Health [AND SOCIAL CARE!] pending the appointment of a new Permanent Secretary.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Reposted by Alex Kennedy
Over the last 30 years, obesity levels have doubled while politicians on all sides have tried and mostly failed to get a grip on the problem.
Too often obesity reduction policies were abandoned, derailed, watered down or lost in the system. What went wrong? www.nesta.org.uk/report/nouri...
Too often obesity reduction policies were abandoned, derailed, watered down or lost in the system. What went wrong? www.nesta.org.uk/report/nouri...
Nourishing Britain: a political manual for improving the nation’s health
Henry Dimbleby and Dr Dolly van Tulleken draw on interviews with former prime ministers and other key figures to offer practical advice and insights on how today’s politicians can tackle the UK’s obes...
www.nesta.org.uk
November 25, 2024 at 8:49 AM
Over the last 30 years, obesity levels have doubled while politicians on all sides have tried and mostly failed to get a grip on the problem.
Too often obesity reduction policies were abandoned, derailed, watered down or lost in the system. What went wrong? www.nesta.org.uk/report/nouri...
Too often obesity reduction policies were abandoned, derailed, watered down or lost in the system. What went wrong? www.nesta.org.uk/report/nouri...
Reposted by Alex Kennedy
Ok, I've caved & joined the starter pack bandwagon
These are people who will be interesting & useful to follow as the new government sets out its plans around social security, work & poverty
Sorry if I've missed off good people - will add to it as more come to mind or join go.bsky.app/8WEVftJ
These are people who will be interesting & useful to follow as the new government sets out its plans around social security, work & poverty
Sorry if I've missed off good people - will add to it as more come to mind or join go.bsky.app/8WEVftJ
November 18, 2024 at 12:21 PM
Ok, I've caved & joined the starter pack bandwagon
These are people who will be interesting & useful to follow as the new government sets out its plans around social security, work & poverty
Sorry if I've missed off good people - will add to it as more come to mind or join go.bsky.app/8WEVftJ
These are people who will be interesting & useful to follow as the new government sets out its plans around social security, work & poverty
Sorry if I've missed off good people - will add to it as more come to mind or join go.bsky.app/8WEVftJ
Reposted by Alex Kennedy
Updated with some of the new joiners
60+ organisations to follow who provide analysis and commentary relevant to health and health inequalities
go.bsky.app/7teKEPq
60+ organisations to follow who provide analysis and commentary relevant to health and health inequalities
go.bsky.app/7teKEPq
November 17, 2024 at 4:24 PM
Updated with some of the new joiners
60+ organisations to follow who provide analysis and commentary relevant to health and health inequalities
go.bsky.app/7teKEPq
60+ organisations to follow who provide analysis and commentary relevant to health and health inequalities
go.bsky.app/7teKEPq
Reposted by Alex Kennedy
👋 We’re an independent charitable organisation working to build a healthier UK.
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Find out more about our work at www.health.org.uk
Follow us here to stay up to date on:
➡️ our latest research and analysis
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Find out more about our work at www.health.org.uk
Home | The Health Foundation
The Health Foundation is an independent charity committed to bringing about better health and health care for people in the UK. Find out more about us.
www.health.org.uk
November 14, 2024 at 4:55 PM
👋 We’re an independent charitable organisation working to build a healthier UK.
Follow us here to stay up to date on:
➡️ our latest research and analysis
➡️ blogs and features about our work
➡️ news of our events
➡️ programmes and funding opportunities
Find out more about our work at www.health.org.uk
Follow us here to stay up to date on:
➡️ our latest research and analysis
➡️ blogs and features about our work
➡️ news of our events
➡️ programmes and funding opportunities
Find out more about our work at www.health.org.uk