The government agrees that the COVID-19 recovery must be undertaken in a way that addresses health inequalities. The government is determined to address the long-standing inequalities that exist in many areas, be they in access, outcomes or people’s experience of their local health service. The government wants to level up people’s opportunity to have a long and healthy life, whoever they are, wherever they live and whatever their background or social circumstances. Professor Marmot’s findings demonstrate the importance of this agenda and renew our determination to level up health across the country. The NHS Long Term Plan contains commitments and conditions for receiving Long Term Plan funding. All major national programmes and every local area across England are required to set out specific, measurable goals and mechanisms by which they will contribute to narrowing health inequalities over the next five to ten years. The NHS recovery (Phase 3) is being implemented in an inclusive way with eight actions to reduce inequalities in the restoration of services, including reporting on providing services to the 20% poorest neighbourhoods.