Children attending schools classified as deprived were reported to have experienced more tooth decay than children in non-deprived schools, according to further analysis of the 2003 Children s Dental Health Survey.
Source: Press release 20 December 2004, Office for National Statistics (0845 601 3034)
Links: ONS press release (pdf) | Analysis
Date: 2004-Dec
An annual survey measured health and health-related behaviours in adults and children living in private households in England in 2003. People from lower socio-economic backgrounds were more likely to suffer from heart disease and to indulge in binge drinking than the better-off.
Source: Health Survey for England 2003: Latest trends, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Report (pdf) | Tables (Excel file) | Natcen press release (Word file)
Date: 2004-Dec
A report concluded that area-level estimates of social capital contributed little to the explanation of variations in health outcomes.
Source: John Mohan, Steve Barnard, Kelvyn Jones and Liz Twigg, Social Capital, Place and Health: Creating, validating and applying small-area indicators in the modelling of health outcomes, Health Development Agency (020 7430 0850)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2004-Dec
A report described the different experiences of social groups in six key areas: education, work, income, living standards, health, and participation. Household income and educational attainment had improved overall, but the gaps remained large. Employment rates for most key groups that had been disadvantaged in the labour market had improved recently, and at a greater rate than for the population overall. Nevertheless, a significant minority of people were affected by a lack of material resources, and the inequality in the health of the population had widened over the previous few decades.
Source: Penny Babb, Jean Martin and Paul Haezewindt (eds.), Focus on Social Inequalities, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | ONS press release (pdf) | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Dec
Primary care trusts in England paid for 9.8 million National Health Service sight tests in 2003-04, an increase of 1.9 per cent on 2002-03.
Source: Ophthalmic Statistics for England: 1993-94 to 2003-04, Statistical Bulletin 2004/21, Department of Health (020 7972 5581) Links: Bulletin (pdf)
Date: 2004-Nov
An article presented statistics on stillbirths and infant deaths registered in England and Wales that occurred in 2003, for which the infant death records were linked to their corresponding birth records. Very low birthweight babies (under 1,500 grams) were over 100 times more likely to be stillborn or die under one year of age. The infant mortality rate for low birthweight babies (under 2,500 grams) was 23 times higher than normal birthweight babies (2,500 grams or more). The infant mortality rate was highest among mothers aged under 20 (7.9 per 1,000 live births) followed by those aged 40 and over (6.2 per 1,000 live births). It was lowest among mothers in the 30-34 age group (4.3 per 1,000 live births).
Source: 'Infant and perinatal mortality by social and biological factors, 2003', Health Statistics Quarterly 24, Winter 2004, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article (pdf) | ONS press release (pdf)
Date: 2004-Nov
An article examined deaths of children aged under 8 in England and Wales by risk factors collected at birth registration. These included birthweight, multiple birth status, father's social class, mother's age, mother's country of birth and parents' marital status.
Source: Tania Corbin, 'Mortality in children aged under 8', Health Statistics Quarterly 24, Winter 2004, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article (pdf) | ONS press release (pdf)
Date: 2004-Nov
An article examined trends in inequalities in infant mortality in England and Wales between 1976 and 2000. It described variations in neonatal, post-neonatal and infant mortality by social class of father, age of mother, registration status, and birthweight.
Source: Joanne Maher and Alison Macfarlane, 'Inequalities in infant mortality: trends by social class, registration status, mother s age and birthweight, England and Wales, 1976-2000', Health Statistics Quarterly 24, Winter 2004, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article (pdf) | ONS press release (pdf)
Date: 2004-Nov
An article said that the minimum personal costs of meeting basic needs for personal health and well-being could be assessed, and that social policy could then aim to provide for these costs generally, including the social security and anti-poverty programmes that determined minimum living standards and life chances.
Source: Jerry Morris and Chris Deeming, 'Minimum Incomes for Healthy Living (MIHL): next thrust in UK social policy?', Policy & Politics, Volume 32 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2004-Oct
A report highlighted failings in the support offered by family doctors and accident/emergency departments to patients who were deaf.
Source: David Reeves, Access to Health Services for Deaf People, National Primary Care Research and Development Centre (0161 275 0611)
Links: Overview (pdf) | A&E report (pdf) | GP/PTC report (pdf)
Date: 2004-Aug
A survey found that spending on health and care 'cover' products - including private medical insurance, health cash plans, dental benefit plans and long-term care insurance - reached 4.1 billion in 2003.
Source: Health & Care Cover: UK market sector report 2004, Laing & Buisson (020 7833 9123)
Links: L&B press release
Date: 2004-Aug
A report said that only by building people s knowledge, skills and confidence to manage their own health - health literacy - would choice in the National Heath Service reduce health inequalities.
Source: Saranjit Sihota and Linda Lennard, Health Literacy: Being able to make the most of health, National Consumer Council (020 7730 3469)
Links: Report (pdf) | NCC press release
Date: 2004-Aug
A cross-sectional analysis of the Scottish Household Survey 2001 examined a range of neighbourhood factors for links with three health outcomes and two health-related behaviours. The results supported the hypothesis that the neighbourhood had a multi-dimensional impact on health. There was also some evidence that the relationship between neighbourhood factors and health varied according to the population subgroup, although not in a consistent manner.
Source: Alison Parkes and Ade Kearns, The Multi-dimensional Neighbourhood and Health: A cross-sectional analysis of the Scottish Household Survey, 2001, CNR Paper 19, Centre for Neighbourhood Research (0141 330 5408)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2004-Aug
Researchers found 'considerable variation' in many health outcomes between English local authorities. Much of this variation was linked to deprivation: but some areas had significantly high mortality rates even after adjusting for deprivation, and others had low mortality rates for the level of deprivation.
Source: Indications of Public Heath in the English Regions, Association of Public Health Observatories (0191 3340398)
Links: Report (pdf) | Link to appendices and tables
Date: 2004-Jul
A report based on the 2001 Census said that 9 out of 10 people in England and Wales believed they enjoyed good health. But there were substantial geographical and occupational variations.
Source: Focus on Health, Office for National Statistics (0845 601 3034)
Links: Report | ONS press release (pdf) | Age Concern press release
Date: 2004-Jul
A report argued that only by building people s knowledge, skills and confidence to manage their own health - 'health literacy' - would greater choice in the National Health Service reduce health inequalities.
Source: Saranjit Sihota and Linda Lennard, Health Literacy: Being able to make the most of health, National Consumer Council (020 7730 3469)
Links: Report (pdf) | NCC press release
Date: 2004-Jul
Researchers reviewed the evidence relating to ethnic differences in health and in the use of health services.
Source: Peter Aspinall and Bobbie Jacobson, Ethnic Disparities in Health and Health Care, London Health Observatory (020 7307 2824)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2004-Jul
Researchers found evidence that coverage of cervical screening and MMR immunization had become more equitable over the period 1991-2001, stimulated by changes in the organisation of primary care - particularly an increase in the number of practice nurses.
Source: Debbie Baker and Elizabeth Middleton, Does Primary Care Reduce Health Inequalities?, National Primary Care Research and Development Centre (0161 275 0611)
Links: Summary (pdf)
Date: 2004-Jul
A new book argued that people's position in the social hierarchy was intimately related to their chances of getting ill and to how long they lived. Health could be predicted 'to an astonishing extent' by being poor, feeling poor, and being made to feel poor. The differences between top and bottom were getting bigger.
Source: Michael Marmot, Status Syndrome: How our position on the social gradient affects longevity and health, Bloomsbury Publishing (020 7440 2475)
Links: Summary | Observer report | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Jun
A report highlighted the reasons why people with a learning disability often received poor healthcare, and the changes required to improve the situation. It called for all healthcare staff to be given learning disability training, and an inquiry into why people with a learning disability often died younger than other people.
Source: Treat Me Right!: Better healthcare for people with a learning disability, Mencap (020 7454 0454)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | Mencap press release | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Jun
The Department of Health and the Disability Rights Commission published a framework for partnership action, aimed at improving the experiences of disabled people in the health and social care system.
Source: Framework for Partnership Action on Disability, Department of Health (08701 555455) and Disability Rights Commission
Links: Framework (pdf) | DH press release | Leonard Cheshire press release | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Jun
A summary report highlighted a selection of findings from the evaluation to date of the Sure Start local programmes, including preliminary findings from a study looking at its impact on outcomes for children and parents. A second report described changes in Sure Start local programme communities since 2000-01.
Source: Towards Understanding Sure Start Local Programmes: Findings to date, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260) | Characteristics of Sure Start Local Programme Areas: 2001/2, National Evaluation Report 5, Department for Education and Skills
Links: Towards Understanding report (pdf) | Characteristics report (pdf) | Characteristics summary (pdf) | DfES press release
Date: 2004-Jun
Free prescription items represented 86.2 percent of all items dispensed in the community in England in 2003, a slight increase on 2002 (85.7 per cent).
Source: Prescriptions Dispensed in the Community Statistics for 1993 to 2003: England, Statistical Bulletin 2004/12, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Bulletin (pdf)
Date: 2004-Jun
An article explored social class inequalities in health among adults aged between 25 and 64, using data from the 2001 Census. There were large geographical inequalities, with rates of poor health generally increasing from class 1 (higher managerial and professional occupations) to class 7 (routine occupations). Women generally had poorer self-rated health than men in the same social class. Wales and the North East and North West regions of England fared particularly badly, with high rates of poor health for all seven social classes.
Source: Tim Doran, Frances Drever and Margaret Whitehead, 'Is there a north-south divide in social class inequalities in health in Great Britain?: Cross sectional study using data from the 2001 census', British Medical Journal, 1 May 2004
Links: Article | BMJ press release
Date: 2004-May
A report provided a comprehensive overview of equality and inequalities in health and social care in Northern Ireland. It included results on the impact of conflict on the population s health and well-being; stress, mental health and suicide; general health and social well-being; lifestyle; and the use of health and social care services.
Source: Liz McWhirter (ed.), Equality and Inequalities in Health and Social Care in NI: Statistical overview, Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety/Northern Ireland Executive (028 9052 0500)
Links: Report (pdf links) | NIE press release
Date: 2004-May
A paper examined the correlation between income and health, by examining routes by which parental disadvantage was transmitted into child disadvantage. Children from poorer households had poorer health: but the direct impact of income was small. A larger role was played by the mother s own health and events in her early life.
Source: Carol Propper, Simon Burgess and John Rigg, The Impact of Low Income on Child Health: Evidence from a birth cohort study, CASEpaper 85, Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion/London School of Economics (020 7955 6679)
Links: Paper (pdf) | Abstract
Date: 2004-May
Researchers found that socially deprived individuals were 44 per cent more likely to develop heart failure, but 23 per cent less likely to see their family doctor on a regular basis, compared with affluent patients.
Source: Finlay McAlister et al., 'Influence of socioeconomic deprivation on the primary care burden and treatment of patients with a diagnosis of heart failure in general practice in Scotland: population based study', British Medical Journal, 23 April 2004
Links: Article | BMJ press release
Date: 2004-Apr
The government tabled regulations to increase the income level at which people were entitled to full remission of National Health Service charges. Previously people were entitled to full help when their income was equal to, or less than, their requirements. From 6 April 2004, people became entitled to full help if their income exceeded their requirements by up to 50 per cent of the prescription charge, so that people whose income was only marginally above income support level were entitled to full help.
Source: The National Health Service (Travel Expenses and Remission of Charges) and (Optical Charges and Payments) and (General Ophthalmic Services) Amendment Regulations 2004, Statutory Instrument 2004/936, TSO (0870 600 5522) | House of Commons Hansard, Written Ministerial Statement 30 March 2004, column 83WS, TSO
Links: Text of Statutory Instrument | Hansard
Date: 2004-Apr
Two linked guides sought to aid health and social care providers in designing and implementing community involvement strategies to reduce inequalities in health.
Source: Nick Emmel and Cath Conn, Towards Community Involvement: Strategies for health and social care providers - Guide 1: Identifying the goal and objectives of community involvement, Nuffield Institute for Health/University of Leeds (0113 343 6352) | Nick Emmel, Towards Community Involvement: Strategies for health and social care providers - Guide 2: The complexity of communities and lessons for community involvement, Nuffield Institute for Health/University of Leeds
Links: Guide 1 (pdf) | Guide 2 (pdf)
Date: 2004-Apr
A report focused on the link between childhood disadvantage and poor health in adulthood. It drew on evidence from epidemiological studies and social surveys to develop a framework that mapped the pathways through which a disadvantaged start in life could compromise adult health.
Source: Hilary Graham and Chris Power, Childhood Disadvantage and Adult Health: A lifecourse framework, Health Development Agency (020 7430 0850)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2004-Apr
A report considered alternative methods of measuring health inequalities in Scotland, and sought to identify possible targets which could be set for reducing health inequalities.
Source: Measuring Inequalities in Health Working Group, Inequalities in Health, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2004-Mar
A new book provided an overview of relevant research and service development literature on health and well-being among older people. It presented and discussed a range of issues relevant to the health of older people, including attitudes and ageism, the body, the environment, family and community, sexuality and having fun.
Source: Jan Reed, David Stanley and Charlotte Clarke, Health, Well-being and Older People, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2004-Mar
A report examined the healthcare needs of people with learning disabilities in Scotland.
Source: People with Learning Disabilities in Scotland: Health needs assessment report, NHS Scotland (0141 300 1026)
Links: Summary (pdf) | NHS Scotland press release
Date: 2004-Feb
The final report was published from an official review group (led by Derek Wanless) on long-term public health trends and inequalities, and their implications for future healthcare policy. It said that all previous efforts to move the focus of the National Health Service from treating sickness to preventing ill-health had failed; and it called for a co-ordinated drive by government and local health agencies against obesity, smoking and diabetes. It said there was an arguable case for extending specific taxes to foodstuffs which contained harmful ingredients while subsidising healthier products.
Source: Derek Wanless, Securing Good Health for the Whole Population: Final report, HM Treasury (020 7270 4558) and Department of Health
Links: Report (pdf links) | DH press release | CPPIH press release | HDA press release | BMA press release | King's Fund press release | NHS Confederation press release | SCMH press release | RCP press release | Guardian report (1) | Guardian report (2) | Guardian report (3)
Date: 2004-Feb
A report summarised the key issues involved in achieving the government's policy goals on health inequalities.
Source: David Hunter and Amanda Killoran, Tackling Health Inequalities: Turning policy into practice?, Health Development Agency (020 7430 0850)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2004-Feb
The independent watchdog for the National Health Service published a report into the experiences of patients of different ages, gender, ethnic origin, educational status, level of health and deprivation. It was found that the age of the patient had a strong bearing on their perceptions of services, with older patients more positive about the care they received than younger people; men generally responded more favourably than women about the care they received; white British and Irish respondents were more likely to respond favourably about their treatment than other ethnic groups - South Asian people (Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi) were the least satisfied with their care; respondents who had completed full-time education at an older age were more likely to comment negatively about the care they received than those leaving school at 16 or earlier; the more sick the patient felt they were, the more negative they were likely to be about the treatment they received; and patients in areas of higher deprivation were more likely to be negative about the care they received than those in more affluent areas.
Source: Unpacking the Patients' Perspective: Variations in NHS patient experience in England, Commission for Health Improvement (020 7448 9200)
Links: Report (pdf) | CHI press release | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Feb
The government responded to reports by a committee of MPs on access to National Health Service maternity services. It said that its 'highest priority' had be to tackle inequalities in access to services and inequalities in health outcomes for women and their babies.
Source: Government Response to the Health Select Committee's Fourth, Eighth, and Ninth Reports of Session 2002-03 on the Provision of Maternity Services, Inequalities in Access to Maternity Services and Choice in Maternity Services, Cm 6140, Department of Health, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Response (pdf) | Fourth report | Eighth report | Ninth report
Date: 2004-Feb
A report looked at the evidence that those living in relatively deprived areas of Scotland were less likely to access healthcare than those in affluent areas. It developed three methods for making an adjustment to the resource allocation formula designed to ensure equal access for equal need. It recommended that the existing formula should be reviewed in order to establish whether it had achieved its existing objective; and whether its objectives should be extended to addressing inequalities in health outcome (as in England).
Source: Alex McConnachie and Matt Sutton, Derivation of an Adjustment to the Arbuthnott Formula for Socioeconomic Inequities in Health Care, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2004-Feb
The government announced that charges for National Health Service prescriptions would rise from 6.30 to 6.40 (1.6 per cent) per item from 1 April 2004. Pharmacists called for a review of the charges, to give greater protection to low-income groups.
Source: Letter 20 February 2004, Department of Health (08701 555455) | Press release 17 February 2004, Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (020 7572 2276)
Links: Letter (pdf) | RPS press release (pdf)
Date: 2004-Feb
A new book described the evidence for the social determinants underlying the social gradient in health.
Source: Richard Wilkinson and Michael Marmot (eds.), Social Determinants of Health: The solid facts (2nd edition), World Health Organization (publicationrequests@euro.who.int)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2004-Jan
A briefing paper clarified different approaches to improving health and reducing health inequalities (including health impact assessment, integrated impact assessment, and health needs assessment). It described common features and tasks, and showed how the different approaches might link together.
Source: R. Quigley, S. Cavanagh, D. Harrison and L. Taylor, Clarifying Health Impact Assessment, Integrated Impact Assessment and Health Needs Assessment, Health Development Agency (020 7430 0850)
Links: Briefing (pdf)
Date: 2004-Jan
A paper examined the causal connections underlying links between low socio-economic status and ill-health. It suggested that the importance of 'reverse causation' from health to economic status needed to be given greater emphasis.
Source: James Smith, Unraveling the SES-Health Connection, WP04/02, Institute for Fiscal Studies (020 7291 4800)
Links: Paper (pdf)
Date: 2004-Jan
