An article reported a study which identified (from hospital admission and accident and emergency data in England) a direct contribution made by violence to health inequalities. Levels of violence inhibited other interventions to improve people's health through, for instance, outdoor exercise or delivery of health-related services in affected areas. With disproportionate exposure to violence in poorer areas even in those under 15, early-life primary prevention initiatives were required in disadvantaged communities.
Source: Mark Bellis, Kay Hughes, Zachary Anderson, Karen Tocque and Sarah Hughes, 'Contribution of violence to health inequalities in England: demographics and trends in emergency hospital admissions for assault', Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, Volume 62 Number 12
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Dec
The Scottish Government published a plan for implementing the recommendations of a taskforce report (in June 2008) on reducing health inequalities.
Source: Equally Well Implementation Plan, Scottish Government, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Plan | Report part 1 | Report part 2
Date: 2008-Dec
An article examined neighbourhood deprivation, social fragmentation, and trajectories of health (using the Whitehall II study of British civil servants). Residence in a deprived or fragmented neighbourhood was associated with poorer mental health, and longer exposure to such neighbourhood environments had incremental effects. Associations between physical health and neighbourhood characteristics were less clear.
Source: Mai Stafford, David Gimeno and Michael Marmot, 'Neighbourhood characteristics and trajectories of health functioning: a multilevel prospective analysis', European Journal of Public Health, Volume 18 Number 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Dec
Researchers examined the best available evidence about the differential effects of population tobacco control interventions on groups with different socio-demographic characteristics. Increasing the price of tobacco was the population-level intervention for which there was strongest evidence as a measure for reducing smoking-related inequalities in health.
Source: Debra Fayter et al., Population Tobacco Control Interventions and Their Effects on Social Inequalities in Smoking, Report 39, Centre for Reviews and Dissemination/University of York (01904 321458)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Dec
A report provided an update on progress to meet the health inequalities target for 2010 (in England). For infant mortality, the latest figures (for 2005-2007) showed a further slight narrowing in the gap between the 'routine and manual' group and the population as a whole. But for life expectancy the gap had not narrowed.
Source: Tackling Health Inequalities: 2005-07 Policy and Data Update for the 2010 National Target, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Dec
An article used (for the first time) the National Statistics Socio-economic Classification (NS-SEC) to analyze regional variations in inequalities in male mortality in England and Wales during 2001-2003. Socio-economic differences in mortality were more marked for men in Wales, the north east, and the north west. The regional differences in mortality were smallest for the most advantaged classes and greatest for the least advantaged classes.
Source: Veronique Siegler, Ann Langford and Brian Johnson, 'Regional differences in male mortality inequalities using the National Statistics Socio-economic Classification, England and Wales, 2001 03',Health Statistics Quarterly 40, Winter 2008, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article | ONS press release | FT report
Date: 2008-Nov
A report examined people's attitudes to health inequalities and the social determinants of health. There was overwhelming support for fairness in life-chances. More than 90 per cent of respondents agreed that every child should have the same chances of living a long and healthy life. 69 per cent of respondents felt that it was important to reduce income differences between the richest and the poorest groups of society.
Source: Alex Christopoulos, Adam Crosier, Dominic McVey, Ruth Bell and Felicity Porritt, Some Are More Equal Than Others... Public attitudes to health inequalities and social determinants of health, National Social Marketing Centre (020 7881 3045)
Links: Report | BBC report
Date: 2008-Nov
An article presented statistics on stillbirths and infant deaths registered in England and Wales that occurred in 2007. The infant mortality rate was highest among babies of mothers aged under 20. Babies of fathers in 'routine occupations' had an infant mortality rate of 5.8 deaths per 1,000 live births, compared with babies of fathers in the 'large employers and higher managerial occupations' who had an infant mortality rate of 2.8 per 1,000 live births.
Source: Kath Moser, 'Infant and perinatal mortality in England and Wales by social and biological factors, 2007', Health Statistics Quarterly 40, Winter 2008, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article | ONS press release
Date: 2008-Nov
Researchers found that health inequalities related to income deprivation in all-cause mortality and mortality from circulatory diseases were lower in populations living in the greenest areas.
Source: Richard Mitchell and Frank Popham, 'Effect of exposure to natural environment on health inequalities: an observational population study', The Lancet, 8 November 2008
Links: Abstract | Glasgow University press release | Guardian report | BBC report | NHS Choices report
Date: 2008-Nov
An article examined whether Sure Start Local Programmes in England affected the well-being of children (at age 3) and their families. After controlling for background factors, beneficial effects were found to be associated with the programmes for 5 out of 14 outcomes. Children in the SSLP areas showed better social development than those in the non-SSLP areas, with more positive social behaviour and greater independence. Families in SSLP areas showed less negative parenting, and provided a better home-learning environment. These families used more services for supporting child and family development than those not living in SSLP areas. The contrast between these and previous findings on the effect of SSLPs might indicate increased exposure to programmes that had become more effective.
Source: Edward Melhuish, Jay Belsky, Alastair Leyland and Jacqueline Barnes, 'Effects of fully-established Sure Start Local Programmes on 3-year-old children and their families living in England: a quasi-experimental observational study', The Lancet, 8 November 2008
Links: Abstract | Guardian report | Pulse report
Date: 2008-Nov
A literature review examined the effectiveness of partnerships in improving health and tackling health inequalities through local area agreements. Area-based partnership initiatives did not achieve better improvements to population health than in comparator areas. However, there was some evidence that partnership working had helped broaden organizational understanding of the wider determinants of health, and/or promoted the issue of health inequalities on the agendas of some organizations.
Source: Katherine Smith et al., Partnerships in Public Health: A Healthy Outcome? Summary findings of a systematic literature review, School of Medicine and Health/Durham University (0191 33 40210)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Oct
A paper examined the history of research on health inequalities, and recent government responses to reducing health inequalities. It proposed a three-pronged policy approach to reducing health inequalities, based on non-financial competitive incentives for health professionals.
Source: Adam Oliver, Reflections on the Development of Health Inequalities Policy in the United Kingdom, Working Paper 11/2008, LSE Health/London School of Economics (020 7955 6840)
Links: Paper
Date: 2008-Oct
A report examined health promotion and public health intervention research focusing on inequalities in young people's health; and what methods had been used to define and measure inequalities.
Source: Sandy Oliver et al., Health Promotion, Inequalities and Young People's Health: A systematic review of research, EPPI-Centre/Social Science Research Unit/Institute of Education/University of London (020 7612 6050)
Date: 2008-Oct
An annual survey found that the faltering economic climate, together with further reductions in National Health Service waiting times, had in 2007 led to the first fall in private self-funded hospital treatment in recent years. But record spending by the NHS on hospital treatment for patients in private facilities contributed to a marginal increase in overall demand for medical treatment in private and voluntary hospitals.
Source: Laing's Healthcare Market Review: 21st Edition 2008/2009, Laing & Buisson (020 7833 9123)
Links: Table of contents | L&B press release | BBC report
Date: 2008-Oct
A report by a committee of MSPs said that there needed to be a shift in family doctors from affluent areas to more deprived areas where they were most needed.
Source: Health Inequalities Inquiry: Response to the Scottish Government, Scottish Parliament Health and Sport Committee, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report | SP press release
Date: 2008-Oct
A report (by an official advisory body) said that most new Sure Start children's centres were performing well, and were supporting the government's aim of giving pre-school children the best start in life. However, the two-year turnaround time allowed to build centres was proving very challenging for local authorities and the heads of the new centres. This was having an impact on design: although the centres were rated highly by families, very few were rated as good by design professionals.
Source: Sure Start Children's Centres: A Post-occupancy Evaluation, Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (020 7960 2400)
Date: 2008-Oct
Campaigners said that the National Health Service should provide dedicated provision for homeless people. As many as one-third of homeless people with serious conditions such as alcohol dependency, drugs problems, or mental illness were receiving no medical care at all.
Source: Homelessness: It Makes You Sick, St. Mungo's (020 8600 3003)
Links: Report | St Mungo's press release | Community Care report
Date: 2008-Sep
An article examined the relation between socio-economic inequalities and quality of clinical care in the first 3 years of the quality and outcomes framework (a financial incentive scheme that remunerates general practices for their performance against a set of quality indicators). The results suggested that financial incentive schemes had the potential to make a substantial contribution to the reduction of inequalities in the delivery of clinical care related to area deprivation.
Source: Tim Doran, Catherine Fullwood, Evangelos Kontopantelis and David Reeves, 'Effect of financial incentives on inequalities in the delivery of primary clinical care in England: analysis of clinical activity indicators for the quality and outcomes framework', The Lancet, 5 September 2008
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Sep
The Scottish Government published the range of indicators which would be used to assess long-term progress in tackling health inequalities. The indicators were: healthy life expectancy (at birth); premature mortality (before 75) from all causes; mental well-being; low birthweight; coronary heart disease; cancer; alcohol problems (hospital admission for those under 75, and deaths aged 45-74); and deaths aged 15-44.
Source: Long-term Monitoring of Health Inequalities: First report on headline Indicators, Scottish Government (web publication only)
Links: Report | SG press release
Date: 2008-Sep
The government announced a pilot scheme under which primary school children in deprived areas would be given free healthy school meals.
Source: Press release 24 September 2008, Department of Health (020 7210 4850)
Links: DH press release | School Food Trust press release | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2008-Sep
A paper evaluated the Healthy Living Centre programme in Wales (initiated in 1998 in response to the United Kingdom Government's drive to tackle inequalities and address the broader socio-economic determinants of health).
Source: Eva Elliott, Fiona Shirani and Gareth Williams, Final Report on the Sustainability and Legacy of Healthy Living Centres in Wales, Working Paper 115, School of Social Sciences/Cardiff University (029 2087 5179)
Date: 2008-Sep
The Northern Ireland Executive announced plans to abolish prescription charges. The cost of a prescription would be reduced to £3 in January 2009, and would be free of charge by April 2010.
Source: Press release 29 September 2008, Northern Ireland Executive (028 9052 0500)
Links: NIE press release | RCPsych press release | BBC report | Telegraph report
Date: 2008-Sep
The government began consultation on proposals to give Sure Start children's centres a statutory identity.
Source: Legislating for Sure Start Children's Centres, Department for Children, Schools and Families (0845 602 2260)
Links: Consultation document | DCSF press release | Community Care report
Date: 2008-Sep
An article reported a case study of a programme within the national Sure Start initiative in England, 1999-2005. Programme 'reach' was conceptualized as having two aspects: contact and use. It was found that, conceptualized as contact, programme reach was virtually 100 per cent. Conceptualized as use, it varied according to services within the programme and to some extent according to family characteristics. The relatively more disadvantaged families were reached almost as much as other families.
Source: Peter Hannon, Caroline Pickstone, Rupert Suckling and Deborah Crofts, 'The reach of early intervention: a case study of a Sure Start programme', Evidence & Policy, Volume 4 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Sep
A paper examined barriers to access to healthcare services in England faced by vulnerable groups, in particular those most exposed to social exclusion. Barriers to access were identified on both the demand and supply side and seem particularly problematic in areas such as preventive care and health promotion. Those living chaotic lives and who found it difficult to organize the physical, social, and financial resources to access services were most at risk.
Source: Maria Goddard, Quality in and Equality of Access to Healthcare Services in England, Research Paper 40, Centre for Health Economics/University of York (01904 433648)
Links: Paper
Date: 2008-Aug
Two linked reports highlighted the impact of poverty on foetal development, early infancy, health throughout childhood, and later health in adult life. Children from disadvantaged families were more likely than those from high-income backgrounds to be born underweight, two and a half times more likely to suffer chronic illness as toddlers, and twice as likely to have cerebral palsy.
Source: Nick Spencer, Health Consequences of Poverty for Children, End Child Poverty (020 7843 1913) | Nick Spencer, Childhood Poverty and Adult Health, End Child Poverty
Links: Summary | ECP press release | Community Care report | Telegraph report | Observer report
Date: 2008-Aug
A report said that health inequalities in the United Kingdom and around the world were largely avoidable, and were related to social conditions and government policies. Governments needed to improve life expectancy for the poorest in society, by providing universal healthcare, social security help 'from the cradle to the grave', decent wages, and affordable housing.
Source: Closing the Gap in a Generation: Health equity through action on the social determinants of health, Commission on Social Determinants of Health/World Health Organization (+41 22 791 3264)
Links: Report | Summary | WHO press release | UCL press release | CPAG press release | CAP press release | IDeA press release | FT report (1) | FT report (2) | Liberal Democrats press release | Guardian report | BBC report | Telegraph report
Date: 2008-Aug
An article examined the associations between (on the one hand) childhood socio-economic and family circumstances, health, and behavioural and cognitive development, and (on the other) health and mental well-being outcomes in adulthood. It emphasized the importance of cognitive and behavioural development in childhood, as well as deprivation, family background, and childhood health in indicating future adult health and mental well-being.
Source: Fiona Mensah and John Hobcraft, 'Childhood deprivation, health and development: associations with adult health in the 1958 and 1970 British prospective birth cohort studies', Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, Volume 62 Number 7
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Jul
A manifesto highlighted the problems that people with both mental health problems and learning disabilities encountered in terms of their health, life chances, and inclusion.
Source: Chris Fitch, Rowena Daw, Neil Balmer, Katie Gray and Martin Skipper, Fair Deal for Mental Health: Our manifesto for a 3 year campaign dedicated to tackling inequality in mental healthcare, Royal College of Psychiatrists (020 7235 2351)
Links: Manifesto | RCPsych press release | Community Care report
Date: 2008-Jul
The Scottish Government published a report which said that health inequalities remained a significant challenge in Scotland. Tackling health inequalities required action from national and local government, and from other agencies including the National Health Service, schools, employers, and third sector. Priority areas were children, particularly in the early years; 'killer diseases' such as heart disease; mental health; and the harm caused by drugs, alcohol, and violence.
Source: Equally Well: Report of the ministerial task force on health inequalities, Scottish Government, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report part 1 | Report part 2
Date: 2008-Jun
An article highlighted conflicts and dilemmas within the evaluation of the Sure Start programme. It illustrated the difficulties placed on local evaluators by the lack of clear structures within which to work.
Source: Jill Clark and Elaine Hall, 'Will the lessons be learned? Reflections on local authority evaluations and the use of research evidence', Evidence & Policy, Volume 4 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Jun
An article examined efforts to address social inequalities in road traffic injury rates. 'Taking deprivation into account' by targeting was unlikely to be a fruitful route for addressing inequalities in health, as it devolved responsibility to a level which had no power to address the determinants of inequality.
Source: Judith Green and Phil Edwards, 'The limitations of targeting to address inequalities in health: a case study of road traffic injury prevention from the UK', Critical Public Health, Volume 18 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Jun
Two linked research studies and a literature review (commissioned by the Department of Health) examined the costs and benefits of eliminating age discrimination in the provision of health and social care.
Source: Julien Forder, The Costs of Addressing Age Discrimination in Social Care, Discussion Paper 2538, Personal Social Services Research Unit/University of Kent (01227 823963) | Jennifer Beecham et al., Age Discrimination in Mental Health Services, Discussion Paper 2536, Personal Social Services Research Unit/University of Kent | Richard Edlin et al., Cost-effectiveness Analysis and Ageism: A review of the theoretical literature, Leeds Institute of Health Sciences/University of Leeds (0113 343 8005) Links: Report (1) | Report (2) | Literature review
Date: 2008-Jun
The government published a report of progress towards achieving the 2010 public service agreement targets on reducing health inequalities. It said that health in the most disadvantaged parts of the country was improving rapidly: but the relative gap was growing, and further action was needed to reduce it.
Source: Health Inequalities: Progress and Next Steps, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Report | DH press release | Kings Fund press release | NHS Confederation press release | RCP press release | Turning Point press release | Alcohol Concern press release | SCMH press release | Rethink press release | CSP press release | Guardian report
Date: 2008-Jun
An article examined the role of systematic reviews in informing decision-making around health inequalities.
Source: Mark Petticrew and Helen Roberts, 'Systematic reviews - do they "work" in informing decision-making around health inequalities?', Health Economics, Policy and Law, Volume 3 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Jun
An article examined how people saw and expressed their experience of inequalities through place, and how they understood the impact of place on health. People from more deprived areas more readily discussed the adverse effects on health and well-being of structural and contextual features, whereas those with least experience of deprivation or hardship were more likely to draw on behavioural explanations of area inequalities. People living in more deprived areas also more readily accepted statistics on area inequalities in health than those based in more affluent areas.
Source: Rosemary Davidson, Richard Mitchell and Kate Hunt, 'Location, location, location: the role of experience of disadvantage in lay perceptions of area inequalities in health', Health and Place, Volume 14 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Jun
An article compared mortality in men in England and Wales for selected causes of death by the National Statistics Socio-economic Classification. A pattern of increasing mortality with more disadvantaged socio-economic position was observed across the major causes of death. Among major causes of death, the largest gaps in mortality rates between the most and least disadvantaged groups were observed from ischaemic heart disease, lung cancer, chronic lower respiratory diseases, suicide, and all liver diseases.
Source: Chris White, Grace Edgar and Veronique Siegler, 'Social inequalities in male mortality for selected causes of death by the National Statistics Socio-economic Classification, England and Wales, 2001-03', Health Statistics Quarterly 38, Summer 2008, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article
Date: 2008-May
A new book described insights gained from the national evaluation of Sure Start. Separate chapters covered: ethnicity; childcare; parents; special needs; maternity services; domestic violence; and buildings and spaces.
Source: Angela Anning and Mog Ball (eds.), Improving Services for Young Children: From Sure Start to Children's Centres, SAGE Publications Ltd (020 7324 8500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2008-May
A report examined variations in the self-reported views of National Health Service patients from different ethnic groups across a range of healthcare settings. There was a range of variations between black and minority ethnic groups and their white British counterparts. Where differences did exist, most were negative, indicating that BME groups were less likely to report a positive experience. But many areas showed no difference, and a few showed a positive difference.
Source: Report on Self Reported Experience of Patients from Black and Minority Ethnic Groups, Department of Health (08701 555455) and Healthcare Commission
Links: Report | DH press release
Date: 2008-May
A paper examined the effects of 'internal market' hospital competition on small-area socio-economic inequality in the use of hospital services in the English National Health Service during the period 1991-2001.
Source: Richard Cookson, Mark Dusheiko, Geoffrey Hardman and Stephen Martin, Does Hospital Competition Increase Health Care Inequalities? Evidence from the English National Health Service 1991-2001, Centre for Research on Families and Relationships/University of Edinburgh (0131 651 1832) Links: Paper
Date: 2008-May
Two reports examined ways of improving the access to, and responsiveness of, family doctor services for black and minority ethnic groups. The first focused on the variation in patient satisfaction between practices; the second examined the reasons for lower satisfaction among patients from some BME communities.
Source: David Colin-Thome, Report of the National Improvement Team for Primary Care Access and Responsiveness, Department of Health (08701 555455) | Mayur Lakhani, No Patient Left Behind: How can we ensure world class primary care for black and ethnic minority people?, Department of Health
Links: Report (1) | Report (2) | DH press release
Date: 2008-May
The number of people covered by private medical insurance rose from 5,879,000 in 2006 to 6,004,000 in 2007, an increase of 2.1 per cent.
Source: Press release 23 April 2008, Association of British Insurers (020 7600 3333)
Links: ABI press release | FT report
Date: 2008-Apr
An article examined the relationship between education, racial discrimination, and health among white, African-Caribbean, and Indian/Pakistani adults aged 18-59 years living in an English city (Leeds). Racial discrimination might play an important role in modifying the relationship between ethnicity, socio-economic position, and health.
Source: Margaret Kelaher et al., 'Discrimination and health in an English study', Social Science & Medicine Volume 66 Issue 7
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Apr
An article said that population-level tobacco control interventions had the potential to benefit more disadvantaged groups and thereby contribute to reducing health inequalities.
Source: Sian Thomas et al., 'Population tobacco control interventions and their effects on social inequalities in smoking: systematic review', Tobacco Control (Online First), 21 April 2008
Links: Abstract | SPHSU press release
Date: 2008-Apr
The government announced that prescription charges in England would rise by 25p, from £6.85 to £7.10, from 1 April 2008 – a below-inflation increase of 3.6 per cent.
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Written Ministerial Statement 6 March 2008, column 121WS, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard
Date: 2008-Mar
An article reported a study (drawing on the British Household Panel Survey) which found strong evidence for the impact of income on self-reported measures of health for men and women. These results were robust across a range of techniques, and were resilient to the inclusion of measures of relative deprivation.
Source: Andrew Jones and John Wildman, 'Health, income and relative deprivation: evidence from the BHPS', Journal of Health Economics, Volume 27 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Mar
A series of briefings was published to support health and social care professionals in their everyday work with lesbian/gay/bisexual/transsexual people, by providing fundamental awareness and evidence of LGBT needs in relation to health.
Source: Julie Fish, Reducing Health Inequalities for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans People: Briefings for health and social care staff, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Introduction | Briefings
Date: 2008-Mar
The government published a progress report on its strategy for reducing health inequalities. It said that the gap in infant mortality was narrowing, and life expectancy in the most deprived areas had increased by 2-3 years for men and 1-2 years for women over the previous 10 years: but the gap between the life expectancy of women in the most deprived areas was still widening compared to the rest of the country.
Source: Tackling Health Inequalities: 2007 status report on the programme for action, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Report | DH press release | UCL press release | FPH press release | Help the Aged press release | Liberal Democrats press release | Guardian report | BBC report
Date: 2008-Mar
A report said that children in Sure Start areas showed more positive social behaviour and greater independence than counterparts in similarly deprived areas. Parents were more likely to provide a better learning environment for their children and exhibit less negative parenting, and made greater use of support services. The benefits of living in an area with a children's centre were not confined to particular groups, and applied to the most disadvantaged, such as teenage and lone parents and workless households.
Source: National Evaluation of Sure Start, The Impact of Sure Start Local Programmes on Three Year Olds and Their Families, Research Report NESS/2008/FR/027, Department for Children, Schools and Families (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report | Brief | DCSF press release | Sure Start press release | Community Care report | Children & Young People Now report | BBC report | FT report | Guardian report
Date: 2008-Mar
A paper examined the association between family income and children's cognitive ability, socio-emotional outcomes, and physical health. Children from low-income families were disadvantaged at age 7-9 across the full spectrum of outcomes, the gradient being strongest for cognitive outcomes and weakest for physical health. Many aspects of growing up in poverty were harmful to children's development, and narrowly-targeted interventions were unlikely to have a significant impact on intergenerational mobility.
Source: Paul Gregg, Carol Propper and Elizabeth Washbrook, Understanding the Relationship Between Parental Income and Multiple Child Outcomes: A decomposition analysis, CASEpaper 129, Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion/London School of Economics (020 7955 6679)
Date: 2008-Feb
A new book brought together the lessons learned from the Sure Start programme. Separate chapters covered: child development and healthcare; partnership working with existing local services; parental employment and supporting families with young children; reaching out to marginalized groups; and strengthening communities.
Source: Justine Schneider, Mark Avis and Paul Leighton (eds.), Supporting Children and Families: Lessons from Sure Start for evidence-based practice in health, social care and education, Jessica Kingsley Publishers (020 7833 2307)
Links: Summary
Date: 2008-Feb
A briefing paper said that the social and economic consequences of long-term ill-health were greatest for deprived groups and certain minority ethnic groups. These groups faced the highest rates of long-term ill-health and worklessness, and were also most marginalized from support services.
Source: Kaveri Harriss and Sarah Salway, Long-term Ill Health, Poverty and Ethnicity, Race Equality Foundation (020 7619 6220)
Links: Briefing
Date: 2008-Feb
An article examined the social determinants of accident and emergency use, and concerns over the equity of NHS Direct utilization. Casualty use was higher for individuals living in rented accommodation or without car access, lower-income groups, unskilled manual workers, existing smokers, and for individuals with limiting illness. In contrast, NHS Direct use was lower in households with older residents, low income, no car access, and where the head of household was from a manual occupational group, a minority ethnic group, or born outside the United Kingdom. Reduced access to accident and emergency services would therefore disproportionately affect low-income groups, whereas increased investment in telephone services would benefit affluent populations.
Source: Sachin Shah and Derek Cook, 'Socio-economic determinants of casualty and NHS Direct use', Journal of Public Health, Volume 30 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Feb
An article examined whether social inequalities in all-cause and coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality in Britain had been reduced between 1978 and 2005. Relative differences in all-cause and CHD mortality between manual and non-manual social class groups persisted, and might have increased during this period. Absolute differences in mortality between these social groups decreased as a result of falling overall mortality rates. Greater effort was needed to reduce social inequalities in all-cause and CHD mortality.
Source: Sheena Ramsay, Richard Morris, Lucy Lennon, Sasiwarang Wannamethee and Peter Whincup, 'Are social inequalities in mortality in Britain narrowing? Time trends from 1978 to 2005 in a population-based study of older men', Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, Volume 62 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Jan
The inspectorate for education and children's services said that extended schools and Sure Start children's centres made a 'positive contribution' to improving the lives of children and their families, as well as achieving overall success. But some did not do enough to help harder-to-reach groups – including fathers and some minority ethnic groups.
Source: How Well Are They Doing? The impact of children's centres and extended schools, HMI, Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (07002 637833)
Links: Report | OFSTED press release | TDA press release | BBC report | Community Care report
Date: 2008-Jan
