Spending Review Statement

The UK is in the grip of a public health crisis caused by preventable accidents. Accidental deaths have risen by over 40% in the past decade, claiming more than 20,000 lives and causing millions of injuries annually. There is also a stark economic cost, with accidents costing over £6 billion a year in lost productivity and an additional £6 billion in NHS treatment, putting an enormous and avoidable cost on public services. 

While the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is pleased to see investment in areas such as healthcare, housing and policing that directly influence people’s ability to live safe lives, it is essential that health and safety is prioritised. Police must be properly resourced to reduce road deaths, and new housing must meet stringent safety standards. Substantial cuts to agencies including the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and trading standards over previous years have limited their ability to protect the public today. We need greater investment to reverse these cuts and the rise in accidents. Otherwise, more people will lose their lives, the NHS will struggle under pressure and the economy will suffer.  

RoSPA is calling for a National Accident Prevention Strategy, overseen by a dedicated minister, to drive coordinated, life-saving action to reduce the huge human and economic costs of rising accident rates. After the Spending Review’s emphasis on wise investment, this stands out as one of the best investments the government could make.