An article examined the availability of primary care according to deprivation and health need in Scotland. Ill health was two and a half times greater in the most deprived group compared to the most affluent: but the number of whole time equivalent family doctor principals was distributed evenly across the population. After including non-principals and doctors in training, there were 11 per cent more family doctors in the more affluent, compared with the more deprived, half of the population.
Source: Daniel Mackay, Matt Sutton and Graham Watt, 'Deprivation and volunteering by general practices: cross sectional analysis of a national primary care system': Subtitle, British Medical Journal, 17 December 2005
Links: Article | BMJ press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Dec
A report (by the advisory body on clinical priorities) examined whether social background, age, or lifestyle choices should ever influence the healthcare provided by the National Health Service. It concluded that no priority should be given based on individuals income, social class, or social roles at different ages, when considering cost effectiveness in clinical guidance. Clinical guidance should only recommend a treatment for a particular age group where there was clear evidence of a difference in that treatment s effectiveness for that age group
Source: Social Value Judgements: Principles for the development of NICE guidance, National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (0870 121 4194)
Links: Report | NIHCE press release
Date: 2005-Dec
A report examined the development and expansion of Sure Start Scotland services since 2001.
Source: Sarah Cunningham-Burley, Amanda Carty, Claudia Martin and Anne Birch, Sure Start Scotland Mapping Exercise 2004, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report
Date: 2005-Dec
The Commission for Racial Equality said that it would launch an investigation into inequalities in the mental health system.
Source: Press release 7 December 2005, Commission for Racial Equality (020 7939 0000)
Links: CRE press release | Community Care report
Date: 2005-Dec
A survey examined the health of people in England from ethnic minorities, focusing on cardiovascular disease and behavioural risk factors associated with it such as drinking, smoking, and eating habits.
Source: Health Survey for England 2004: Health of ethnic minorities, NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre (0845 300 6016)
Links: Report | HSCIC press release
Date: 2005-Dec
Following consultation, the government published revised regulations containing details of a new patient charges system for dental care, simplifying the existing system of more than 400 charges. In response to concerns raised in consultation, the charge for replacement of lost or damaged dentures or other appliances was reduced.
Source: Press release 2 December 2005, Department of Health (020 7210 4850)
Links: DH press release
Date: 2005-Dec
An article said that, rather than targeting perceptions of disadvantage and associated negative emotions, interventions to reduce health inequalities should aim to reduce objective material disadvantage, particularly that experienced in early life.
Source: John Macleod, George Davey Smith, Chris Metcalfe and Carole Hart, 'Is subjective social status a more important determinant of health than objective social status? Evidence from a prospective observational study of Scottish men', Social Science & Medicine Volume 61, Issue 9
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-Nov
A report said that people living with chronic diseases, those from lower socio-economic groups, early school leavers, and the elderly were the groups found to be least able to manage their healthcare needs.
Source: Jo Ellins and Angela Coulter, How Engaged are People in their Health Care?: Findings of a national telephone survey, Picker Institute Europe (01865 208100)
Links: Report | Picker Institute press release | Health Foundation press release
Date: 2005-Nov
The Scottish Executive announced a pilot programme to strengthen primary healthcare and reduce health inequalities. The programme would target deprived communities with poor health records; it would actively seek out those at risk of ill health, and offer them access to services and treatments which met their needs.
Source: Press release 21 November 2005, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400)
Links: SE press release
Date: 2005-Nov
Five reports contained the early findings of an independent evaluation of Sure Start. Children of teenage mothers and of unemployed or lone parents did worse in Sure Start areas than those in similarly deprived communities elsewhere. The government said that the programme showed positive results for most children and families.
Source: National Evaluation of Sure Start, Early Impacts of Sure Start Local Programmes (SSLPs) on Children and Families, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260) | National Evaluation of Sure Start, Variation in SSLP Effectiveness: Early preliminary findings, Department for Education and Skills | National Evaluation of Sure Start, Implementing Sure Start Local Programmes: An integrated overview of the first four years, Department for Education and Skills | National Evaluation of Sure Start, The Quality of Early Learning, Play and Childcare services in SSLPs, Department for Education and Skills | National Evaluation of Sure Start, Maternity Services in SSLPs, Department for Education and Skills | Press release 30 November 2005, Department for Education and Skills (0870 000 2288)
Links: Report 1 | Report 2 | Report 3 | Report 4 | Report 5 | DfES press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Nov
The interim report was published of an investigation into the health inequalities experienced by people with mental health problems and people with learning disabilities.
Source: Equal Treatment: Closing the Gap, Disability Rights Commission (08457 622633)
Links: Report | DRC press release | Community Care report
Date: 2005-Nov
An article examined parent participation in local Sure Start partnerships, within the broader context of public involvement in policy-making processes.
Source: Ulla Gustafsson and Stephen Driver, 'Parents, power and public participation: Sure Start, an experiment in New Labour governance', Social Policy and Administration, Volume 39 Number 5
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-Oct
The value of the private acute healthcare market, embracing independent hospitals and clinics, National Health Service private treatment and specialists' fees, was estimated at 4.8 billion in 2004, representing real growth of 5.4 per cent over the previous year.
Source: Healthcare Market Review: 2005-2006 edition, Laing & Buisson (020 7833 9123)
Links: Summary
Date: 2005-Oct
A report provided a comprehensive regional analysis of inequalities in health and healthcare between ethnic groups in England.
Source: Justine Fitzpatrick, Bobbie Jacobson and Peter Aspinall, Indications of Public Health in the English Regions 4: Ethnicity and Health, Association of Public Health Observatories (0191 3340398)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Oct
A report said that there was a gap between government rhetoric on health inequalities and the reality. Society continued to be modelled on the needs of competitive, entrepreneurial, educated, white people in middle England - at the expense of health and well-being.
Source: UK Health Watch 2005: The experience of health in an unequal society, Politics of Health Group (contact@pohg.org.uk)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Oct
A study found that 8 per cent of people were asked to pay a higher life insurance premium because of health 'ratings' - twice as many as previously thought.
Source: Paul Bennett and Susan Smith, Health, Life Insurance and Financial Inclusion, Economic and Social Research Council (01793 413000)
Links: ESRC press release
Date: 2005-Oct
A report discussed recent publications on health inequalities, and presented two case studies that attempted to address health inequalities through the use of health impact assessment.
Source: Practical Lessons for Dealing with Inequalities in Health Impact Assessment, National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (0870 121 4194)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Sep
A paper said that there was some empirical evidence in favour of the 'secession of the wealthy' hypothesis, whereby a lack of support of the National Health Service explained the purchase of supplementary private health insurance.
Source: Joan Costa-Fonta and Mireia Jofre-Boneta, The Secession of the Wealthy : Demand for private health insurance and support for the National Health System, Discussion Paper 19, LSE Health and Social Care/London School of Economics (020 7955 6840)
Links: Discussion paper (pdf)
Date: 2005-Sep
A survey found a widening gap in the levels of decay in children's teeth in the poorest and richest parts of Britain.
Source: N. Pitts, J. Boyles, Z. Nugent, N. Thomas and C. Pine, 'The dental caries experience of 5-year-old children in England and Wales (2003/2004) and in Scotland (2002/2003)', Community Dental Health, Volume 22
Links: Full text | Abstract | Observer report
Date: 2005-Sep
A new book investigated the operation and outcomes of health action zones, one of the earliest and most high profile of the area-based social initiatives of the Labour government after 1997.
Source: Marian Barnes et al. (eds.), Health Action Zones: Partnerships for health equity, Routledge (01264 343071)
Links: Summary
Date: 2005-Aug
The government published an independent progress report on action against health inequalities since 2003. Progress had been made on child poverty and improving housing: but the inequality gap - measured by infant mortality and life expectancy - had increased.
Source: Tackling Health Inequalities: Status report on the programme for action, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | NHS Alliance press release | Community Care report
Date: 2005-Aug
An article provided an overview of health action zones in England, and explored why many of the expectations associated with them at their launch had failed to materialize. It suggested that, despite their relatively limited impact, it was best to consider that they made a good start in difficult circumstances, rather than that they failed.
Source: Linda Bauld et al., 'Promoting social change: the experience of health action zones in England', Journal of Social Policy, Volume 34 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-Jul
A new book evaluated the development of a local Sure Start programme, and drew conclusions about best practice.
Source: Jo Weinberger, Caroline Pickstone and Peter Hannon, Learning from Sure Start: Working with young children and their families, Open University Press (01280 823388)
Links: Summary
Date: 2005-Jul
A report said that the number of people with private medical insurance policies, or enrolled in employer-funded medical schemes, was 4,183,000 at the start of 2005, up 0.6 per cent on the previous year.
Source: Health & Care Cover: UK Market Report 2005, Laing & Buisson (020 7833 9123)
Links: Summary
Date: 2005-Jul
A paper said that children from poor families did not appear to have access to markedly worse-quality primary care than others; and that the quality of primary care did not appear to have a large effect on differentials in child health in early childhood.
Source: Carol Propper, Simon Burgess and John Rigg, Health Supplier Quality and the Distribution of Child Health, CASEpaper 102, Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion/London School of Economics (020 7955 6679)
Links: Paper (pdf) | Abstract
Date: 2005-Jul
Researchers sought to establish comparative trends within areas covered by local Sure Start programmes in England, between 2000-01 and 2002-03. There were increases in most aspects of social service activity with families in Sure Start areas (referrals, registrations, section 47 enquiries, and numbers of looked after children); and increasing numbers of primary-aged children were being identified as having special educational needs. There was some evidence of a comparative improvement in child immunization rates. The rate of unemployment had also dropped more in Sure Start areas than in England as a whole.
Source: National Evaluation of Sure Start, Changes in the Characteristics of Sure Start Local Programme Areas in Rounds 1 to 4 Between 2000/2001 and 2002/2003, Report SFR008, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jul
A study examined the relationship between income and healthy behaviour over the generations, by studying the association between parental income and children s prevalence to smoke using data from the British Household Panel Survey and British Youth Survey.
Source: Laura Blow, Andrew Leicester and Frank Windmeijer, Parental Income and Children's Smoking Behaviour: Evidence from the British Household Panel Survey, Working Paper 05/10, Institute for Fiscal Studies (020 7291 4800)
Links: Working paper (pdf)
Date: 2005-May
The health services regulator published a strategic plan for 2005-2008. It said that a key cornerstone of the plan was a focus on reducing inequalities in access to healthcare and in the health of the population - whether as a result of age, gender, ethnicity, social class, disability or geographical area.
Source: Strategic Plan 2005/2008, Healthcare Commission (020 7448 9200)
Links: Strategy (pdf) | Healthcare Commission press release
Date: 2005-May
A report examined ways of improving public health, and reducing health inequalities, in Scotland.
Source: Fiona Crawford, Doing It Differently: An asset-based approach to well-being, Scottish Council Foundation (0131 225 4709)
Links: Summary
Date: 2005-May
In 2004, the total number of subscribers to private medical insurance fell by just under 0.8 per cent compared to the previous year.
Source: Private Medical Insurance Statistics Results: 2004, Association of British Insurers (020 7600 3333)
Links: Report (Excel file) | ABI press release
Date: 2005-May
From 1 April 2005, charges for National Health Service prescriptions in Wales were cut by 1 to 4, compared to 6.50 in England. A 12-month pre-payment certificate cost 57.46, compared to 93.20 in England.
Source: The Guardian, 1 April 2005
Links: Guardian report | Welsh Consumer Council press release
Date: 2005-Apr
An independent evaluation report was published on a project (in Glasgow) to improve child health by a programme of early interventions. A significantly lower rate of depressive symptoms was found at 6 months for intervention mothers, but not at 18 months. There was no improvement in the quality of the home environment at 6 months, but some at 18 months.
Source: Mhairi Mackenzie, Jon Shute, Kathryn Berzins and Ken Judge, The Independent Evaluation of 'Starting Well': Final report, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report
Date: 2005-Apr
An article said that inequalities in life expectancy had continued to widen in the early years of the 21st century. Life expectancy had risen in the most advantaged areas of the country at a greater pace than in the poorest areas.
Source: Mary Shaw, George Davey Smith and Danny Dorling, 'Health inequalities and New Labour: how the promises compare with real progress', British Medical Journal, 30 April 2005
Links: Abstract | BMJ press release
Date: 2005-Apr
An article reviewed case study data on Sure Start local programmes, collected as part of a national evaluation between 2002 and 2004.
Source: Jane Tunstill, Debbie Allnock, Sofie Akhurst and Claudia Garbers, 'Sure Start local programmes: implications of case study data from the national evaluation of Sure Start', Children & Society, Volume 19 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-Apr
A study examined the barriers faced by primary care trusts in undertaking effective and comprehensive health equity audits. (Health equity audits identify how fairly services or other resources are distributed in relation to the health needs of different groups and areas, and the priority action to provide services relative to need.)
Source: Understanding the Barriers to Completing Health Equity Audit in PCTs: Findings from a qualitative study, Health Development Agency (020 7430 0850)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2005-Mar
The government announced that the charge for a single prescription item from the National Health Service would rise by 10 pence (1.6 per cent) to 6.50 on 1 April 2005.
Source: Press release 10 March 2005, Department of Health (020 7210 4850)
Links: DH press release | RCGP press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Mar
A research report said that children from the poorest families were five times more likely to be killed as a result of unintentional injuries than those from the most affluent.
Source: Elizabeth Towner, Therese Dowswell, Gail Errington, Matthew Burkes, John Towner, Injuries in Children Aged 0-14 Years and Inequalities, Health Development Agency (020 7430 0850)
Links: Report (pdf) | HDA press release
Date: 2005-Mar
An article investigated inequality and inequity in the use of general practitioner consultations, outpatient visits, day cases and inpatient stays in England, for the period 1998 2000. Inequalities were found in utilization with respect to income, ethnicity, employment status and education. Low-income individuals and ethnic minorities had lower use of secondary care despite having higher use of primary care.
Source: Stephen Morris, Matthew Sutton and Hugh Gravelle, 'Inequity and inequality in the use of health care in England: an empirical investigation', Social Science & Medicine Volume 60, Issue 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-Mar
A report set out the results of a national survey of primary care trusts experience in developing health equity audits. It included a summary of the topics chosen for audits, how they were selected, and the progress made in completing the health equity audit cycle.
Source: Peter Aspinall and Bobbie Jacobson, Health Equity Audit: A baseline survey of primary care trusts in England, Health Development Agency (020 7430 0850)
Links: Report (pdf) | Annexes (pdf)
Date: 2005-Feb
An article examined the magnitude of inequalities in health by area deprivation in England. Males and females living in the most deprived wards spent twice as many years in poor health, both in absolute (years of life) and relative (proportion of life) terms, than those living in the least deprived wards.
Source: Madhavi Bajekal, 'Healthy life expectancy by area deprivation: magnitude and trends in England, 1994 1999', Health Statistics Quarterly 25, Spring 2005, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article (pdf) | HDA press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Feb
A report said that deprivation was a factor impacting on a range of health issues among children in Scotland - such as teenage pregnancy, and the number of children admitted to hospital for unintentional injury, asthma, and diabetes.
Source: Health Indicators Report: A Focus on Children, NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (0131 623 4300)
Links: Report (pdf) | QIS press release
Date: 2005-Jan
A report considered the role and impact of prescription charges in the National Health Service. It said that the existing system of charges and exemptions was 'illogical and unfair'.
Source: Prescription Charges: Should they be Abolished?, Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (020 7572 2218)
Links: Report (pdf) | RPS press release (pdf) | Kings Fund press release
Date: 2005-Jan
Researchers evaluated early evidence from 'mini' Sure Start programmes - 43 local programmes designed for small communities in scattered rural areas and pockets of deprivation in urban and rural areas, each with a target population of approximately 150 children under 4.
Source: Sara Glennie, Gill Treseder, Janet Williams and Mike Williams, Mini Sure Start Local Programmes: An Overview of their Early Implementation, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jan
A report presented findings from case studies carried out as part of the national evaluation of Sure Start local programmes. The data revealed a high level of satisfaction and enthusiasm on the part of parents who lived in local programme areas and who had come into contact, on either a shorter or longer-term basis, with the programmes. A linked report presented an in-depth picture of the individual services being delivered by the first 260 local programmes.
Source: National Evaluation of Sure Start, Implementing Sure Start Local Programmes: An in-depth study, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260) | National Evaluation of Sure Start, Implementing Sure Start Local Programmes: An in-depth Study (Part two: A close up on services), Department for Education and Skills
Links: Report (pdf) | Part 2 Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jan
Researchers evaluated pilots designed to explore potential opportunities and constraints for reshaping mainstream services to meet the needs of the Sure Start client groups more effectively. Most projects were found to have achieved their aims and initiated at least some degree of mainstream change by the end of their funding period. In most cases, these projects were expected to have a long-term positive impact in improving service delivery as well as generating benefits for client groups.
Source: Geoff White, Jenny Swift and Anita Bennett, Sure Start Mainstreaming Pilots: What can we learn?, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (pdf) | Brief (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jan
A report said that remoteness, lack of public transport services, and the centralization of health services meant that many people in rural areas could have difficulties in accessing healthcare. There was evidence that some health outcomes for rural patients were poor compared with those from urban areas.
Source: Healthcare in a Rural Setting, British Medical Association (020 7383 6164)
Links: Report (pdf) | BMA press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Jan
