Men should have dedicated health minister to help address blokes’ poor health and early deaths, MPs are told
MEN should have a dedicated health minister to help address blokes’ poor health and early deaths, MPs have heard.
Many males do not visit the doctor between childhood and middle-age and are less likely to take time away from work to get checked out, it was said.
Official figures show men in the UK live to an average age of 79, while it is 83 for women.
In 2022, the Department of Health launched a women’s health strategy and appointed a dedicated minister — Maria Caulfield — to improve female healthcare.
However, as yet, there is no equivalent for fellas.
Martin Tod, of the Men’s Health Forum, told the Commons Health Committee: “Everybody knows men die earlier, and drink more and smoke more.
“Everybody knows they are more likely to die of cancer or heart disease, yet nothing is done.
“This is a problem that is hiding in plain sight.
“We need to put something into the system, whether it’s a strategy, a minister, or a clinical lead in the NHS — probably all of those — to say, ‘It’s time to change’.”