Tory cuts have led to 130,000 preventable deaths in seven years, report finds

Savage Tory cuts are responsible for more than 130,000 preventable deaths in the UK since 2012, says a report.

Austerity has caused improvements in public health to stall, according think tank Institute for Public Policy Research.

It found preventable diseases had fallen over 20 years through better education. Had that continued, then some 131,000 lives could have been saved.

The UK is now halfway down a table of nations in the OECD trade group for tackling preventable diseases.

Understaffed hospitals with fewer facilities than necessary are under intense pressure (PA)

IPPR’s lead researcher Dean Hochlaf, inset, said: “We have seen progress in reducing preventable disease flatline since 2012.

“Local authorities have seen significant cuts to their public health budgets, which has severely impacted the capacity of preventative services.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has a lot to answer for (PA)

“Social conditions for many have failed to improve since the economic crisis, creating a perfect storm that encourages harmful health behaviours.

“This health challenge will only continue to worsen.”

The report, out this week, looks at conditions such as heart disease, lung cancer or liver problems.