Build Back Fairer: The COVID-19 Marmot Review

As the UK emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic ‘Build Back Better’ has become the mantra, this report highlights the need to Build Back Fairer.

It was the principles of fairness and the need to do things differently that animated the concrete recommendations set out in the Marmot Review 10 Years On Report, just before the pandemic hit with such devastating intensity. Inequalities in mortality from COVID-19 and rising health inequalities as a result of social and economic impacts, have made such action even more important.

The aim of this report is three-fold:

• To examine inequalities in COVID-19 mortality. Focus is on inequalities in mortality among members of BAME groups and among certain occupations, alongside continued attention to the socioeconomic gradient in health – the more deprived the area, the worse COVID-19 mortality tends to be
• To show the effects that the pandemic, and the societal response to contain the pandemic, have had on social and economic inequalities, their effects on mental and physical health, and their likely effects on health inequalities in the future
• To make recommendations on what needs to be done

The report urges that the Government learns the lessons of the pandemic, prioritises greater equity and health, and works urgently to reduce the severity of the health crisis caused by the economic and social impacts of the pandemic and the societal response.

#BuildBackFairer builds on recommendations in the 10 Years On and Marmot 2010 reports, which were to:

• Give every child the best start in life
• Enable all children, young people and adults to maximise their capabilities and have control over their lives
• Create fair employment and good work for all
• Ensure a healthy standard of living for all
• Create and develop healthy and sustainable places and communities
• Strengthen the role and impact of ill health prevention

Read the executive summary here.

Download the full report.