A dramatic fall in the number of years people can expect to live in good health has prompted calls for swift political action.

The Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, Rhian Bowen-Davies, called the findings in a new Health Foundation report deeply concerning, particularly because Wales saw the sharpest deterioration among the four UK nations.

The official said the research published today by the Health Foundation shows worrying data, with Wales facing the most severe reduction in healthy life expectancy of any nation in the UK. She added that the considerable and growing gaps between residents of the wealthiest areas and those in the most disadvantaged regions are equally worrying.

She stressed that this sharp decline must serve as an immediate warning for governments across the UK, urging them to work together to tackle this issue.

The official went on to say that improving healthy life expectancy ought to be a core government priority in Wales and throughout the UK, and that greater investment in preventive measures and supporting wellbeing throughout people’s lives is vital to accomplish this. Without such measures, further reductions in healthy life expectancy are likely, leading to significant effects not just for individuals through reduced quality of life and diminished opportunities for participation, but also more broadly through increased health and social care costs and reduced economic productivity.

She also called for urgent steps to improve wellbeing for those already dealing with health problems.

The official observed that this should include NHS measures such as cutting waiting lists and appointment waiting times, as well as wider initiatives addressing determinants of health and wellbeing such as poverty and loneliness.