Read Again: Practice Managers Urged to Share Insights for Men’s Health Strategy

Earlier this year, the government launched a major call for evidence to help develop England’s first Men’s Health Strategy, in an urgent bid to address the life expectancy gap between men and women

CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared in National Health Executive

The initiative aims to gather frontline insights into what is working – and what more needs to be done – to improve outcomes for men across the country.

Currently, men in England die nearly four years earlier than women on average. According to the Office for National Statistics, the average life expectancy at birth for men is 79.0 years, compared to 82.9 years for women. Men are also significantly more likely to die from preventable causes; a 2022 study by Public Health England revealed that 40% of premature deaths in men are considered preventable, compared with 23% in women.

Priority Areas

The new Men’s Health Strategy is being developed under the government’s Plan for Change, which seeks to rebuild the NHS and tackle long-standing health inequalities. The call for evidence is open until 17 July 2025, with the final strategy expected to launch later this year.

The government’s consultation is focused on three priority areas:

• Prevention: Identifying effective ways to encourage healthier behaviours among men and reduce their risk of preventable illness.
• Diagnosis and Treatment: Enhancing early diagnosis and treatment for conditions that disproportionately affect men, such as prostate cancer, heart disease and suicide.
• Encouragement to Come Forward: Finding better ways to engage men with health services, addressing cultural and practical barriers to seeking help.

Mental Health Support

Men’s mental health is another critical concern. According to the Samaritans, three out of four suicide deaths in the UK are male, highlighting the need for targeted mental health support.

This focus on men’s health runs in parallel with ongoing government efforts to improve women’s healthcare. Recent initiatives include tackling gynaecology waiting lists, investing in AI breast cancer screening technology and taking action against violence towards women and girls.

The Department of Health and Social Care is encouraging healthcare professionals, voluntary organisations, researchers and members of the public to submit their views through its online portal. Practice managers, in particular, are seen as crucial contributors, given their direct experience of how men interact with primary care services.

Submissions can be made via the Department of Health and Social Care website until 17 July.

By collecting evidence from those on the frontlines of care, the government hopes to develop a Men’s Health Strategy that will not only close the life expectancy gap but also ensure men across England can live healthier, longer lives.