In the wake of 2023, the UK Parliament’s attention towards the leading diseases in the UK has seen a notable shift. While Covid-19 remains a prevalent topic, other diseases are gaining prominence and it is evident that the landscape is evolving. Here, we analyse the major health trends of 2023 and make three predictions for what may capture the attention of MPs in the UK Parliament in 2024.
Covid-19: A Gradual Decline
With over 5000 mentions, Covid-19 continued to dominate parliamentary discussions in 2023. As the most discussed disease last year, Covid-19 still holds a significant place in political discourse. Sustained discussion around Covid-19 likely impacted parliamentary attention on other respiratory diseases; influenza and pneumonia featured in the top five most mentioned diseases in 2022 and 2023 and chronic lower respiratory diseases were in the top 10 most mentioned diseases in both years.
However parliamentary attention to Covid-19 dropped significantly in 2023 compared with 2022. As we move further away from the pandemic this downward trajectory can be expected to continue into 2024 and MP’s attention will likely be re-directed towards other chronic diseases. Aside from Covid-19, the diseases that garnered the most attention from MPs in 2023 were dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, ischaemic heart disease, and influenza and pneumonia. These diseases will likely continue to be a priority for MPs in 2024, especially against the decline of Covid-19.
Prioritising Neurological Health
Dementia and Alzheimer’s maintained their status as the second most discussed disease in the UK Parliament throughout 2023, echoing patterns observed in 2022. Last year, pivotal milestones were reached in the field of dementia and Alzheimer’s; new drug donanemab was marked a ‘turning point’[1] following successful clinical trial results and experts declared that blood tests for Alzheimer’s could be available on the NHS within the next five years.[2]
These recent breakthroughs and sustained interest in dementia and Alzheimer’s suggests that MPs are likely to continue prioritising discussions around neurological health in 2024. This trend may extend to include other diseases, with Parkinson’s standing out as a potential focal point for parliamentary attention, as it is the only other neurological condition in the top 20 diseases for England and Wales.[3] Expanding Conversations on Cancer
There was a significant shift in the dialogue surrounding cancer in the UK Parliament during 2023. While breast cancer remained the most discussed cancer[4] throughout 2022 and 2023, both lung and colon cancer witnessed significant increases in parliamentary attention. Mentions of lung cancer more than doubled in 2023 compared with 2022 making it the second most discussed cancer in the UK Parliament. Similarly mentions of colon cancer nearly doubled, overtaking mentions of prostate and pancreatic cancer in 2023.
This pronounced upturn in attention for lung cancer is likely to continue into 2024 due to the new national lung screening programme announced in July 2023.[5] The considerable shift in cancer mentions last year reflects an increasingly varied discussion around cancers in Parliament. In 2023, references to blood, lung, colon, and prostate cancer drew significantly nearer to the prominence of breast cancer mentions compared to the previous year. Hopefully, 2024 will narrow the divide between the most and least mentioned cancers even more, fostering a more equitable representation of all fatal cancers.
The health landscape in Parliament is dynamic; while Covid-19 remains a focal point, the spotlight is gradually shifting toward other chronic diseases. Lung and colon cancer are gaining momentum in parliamentary discussion, showcasing a more comprehensive approach to cancer discussions. Neurological disorders remain at the forefront of parliamentary debate and will hopefully open up broader discussion about other conditions, like Parkinson’s. It’s important to note that these observations are speculative, and various factors can influence the trends, including medical breakthroughs
[1] Alzheimer’s Society, ‘New drug donanemab is a ‘turning point in the fight against Alzheimer’s’, 17 July 2023, link
[2] Alzheimer’s Research UK, ‘A Five-Year Project to Bring Alzheimer’s blood tests to the NHS’, 9 November 2023, link
[3] The Office for National Statistics, ‘Monthly mortality analysis, England and Wales: December 2022’, link
[4] Brevia Health is comparing data from the seven cancers outlined in the ONS’ Top 20 leading causes of death as of December 2022, link
[5]Hansard, ‘Lung Cancer Screening’, 26 June 2023, link
