Tackling UK ill health is vital to economic growth, says IPPR

Government must invest 15bn a year on a changes to improve wellbeing and prosperity, says thinktank

Tackling Britain's growing ill-health crisis holds the key to increasing growth and the government needs to invest 15bn a year on a radical programme of reforms designed to improve wellbeing and national prosperity, a left-of-centre thinktank has said.

The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) said the UK's worsening health was affecting the supply of workers, worsening productivity, holding back pay, damaging the public finances and adding to regional inequality.

Higher taxes on tobacco, alcohol and unhealthy food companies to raise more than 10bn a year by the end of the parliament.

Free school meals for all primary schoolchildren, the scrapping of the two-child benefit limit and the restoration of the Sure Start programme of family support.

The creation of health and prosperity improvement zones with new powers and national investment to rebuild local health infrastructure - such as swimming pools and green spaces - in the most health-deprived areas.

A right to try" for people on health or disability benefits - a government commitment to a new and guaranteed period where people in receipt of benefits can try" work with no risk to welfare status or award level.

A new neighbourhood health centre" in every part of the country: a one-stop shop for diagnostics, primary care, mental health and public health with a focus on prevention.