An article examined time trends in socio-economic inequalities in cause-specific neonatal mortality. Almost 80 per cent of the relative deprivation gap in all-cause mortality was explained by premature birth and congenital anomalies. Understanding the link between deprivation and preterm birth should be a major research priority to identify interventions to reduce preterm births.
Source: Lucy Smith, Bradley Manktelow, Elizabeth Draper, Anna Springett and David Field, 'Nature of socioeconomic inequalities in neonatal mortality: population based study', British Medical Journal, 2 December 2010
Links: Article | Abstract | RCM press release
Date: 2010-Dec
A briefing paper examined health inequalities in Europe. Although the average life expectancy in the European Union had increased in recent decades, differences in life expectancy at birth between the lowest and highest socio-economic groups reached 10 years for men and 6 years for women, and varied significantly between countries. Health gains had not been evenly distributed across countries, or across socio-economic groups within the same country.
Source: 2010 EPHA Briefing on Health Inequalities, European Public Health Alliance
Links: Briefing
Date: 2010-Dec
A report set out the work of the Infant Mortality National Support Team in addressing inequalities and improving infant and maternal health in disadvantaged areas, and identified good practice.
Source: Marilena Korkodilos, Ray Earwicker and Marcia Perry, Tackling Health Inequalities in Infant and Maternal Health Outcomes, Department of Health
Links: Report
Notes: The Infant Mortality National Support Team (IMNST) was established in 2008 to help disadvantaged local areas in England to address inequalities in infant mortality and improve infant and maternal health outcomes.
Date: 2010-Dec
Researchers examined the socio-economic determinants of body weight by means of two recent waves from the British Household Panel Survey.
Source: Luca Pieroni and Luca Salmasi, Body Weight and Socio-Economic Determinants: Quantile estimations from the British Household Panel Survey, Working Paper 2010-41, Institute for Social and Economic Research/University of Essex
Links: Working paper | Abstract
Date: 2010-Dec
A paper examined ethnic differences in overweight and obese boys and girls aged 2-15 in England. Interventions aimed at reducing childhood overweight/obesity should focus on parental characteristics: but they also needed to be sensitive to gender and ethnic differences.
Source: Vanessa Higgins and Angela Dale, Ethnic differences in overweight and obese children in England, Working Paper 2010-07, Centre for Census and Survey Research/University of Manchester
Links: Paper
Date: 2010-Dec
An article examined the methodology and outcomes of an independent review (commissioned by the former Labour government in 2008) of strategies for reducing health inequalities.
Source: Clare Bambra et al., 'Reducing health inequalities in priority public health conditions: using rapid review to develop proposals for evidence-based policy', Journal of Public Health, Volume 32 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Dec
Researchers examined the characteristics and quality of group childcare settings used by children in areas served by Sure Start local programmes, and the relationships between pre-school childcare quality and child outcomes.
Source: Edward Melhuish, Jay Belsky, Kristen MacPherson and Andrew Cullis, The Quality of Group Childcare Settings Used by 3-4 Year Old Children in Sure Start Local Programme Areas and the Relationship with Child Outcomes, Research Report RR068, Department of Education
Links: Report
Date: 2010-Nov
The government began consultation on a proposal to scrap further production of a report on the self-reported experience of patients from black and minority-ethnic groups.
Source: National Statistics Published by the Department of Health About the Experience of Black and Minority Ethnic Patients: A consultation, Department of Health
Links: Consultation document | Equality impact assessment
Date: 2010-Nov
A study examined the issues relating to drinking, related harms, and service provision among black and minority-ethnic groups in England.
Source: Betsy Thom et al., Black and Minority Ethnic Groups and Alcohol: A scoping and consultation study, Department of Health
Links: Report
Date: 2010-Nov
A briefing paper examined the potential impact of ethnic monitoring on health services. Ethnic monitoring practices could help health services to demonstrate a clear and localized understanding of where inequalities existed, and to take informed measures to address them.
Source: Rorie Fulton, Ethnic Monitoring: Is Health Equality Possible Without It?, Better Health Briefing 21, Race Equality Foundation
Links: Briefing
Date: 2010-Nov
A paper examined the dynamic patterns of inequalities in health in England from 1997 to 2007. It considered whether specifically prioritized areas (so-called 'spearhead' local authority areas ranked in the bottom fifth on national health indicators) exhibited a different pattern of inequality in the years following a targeted intervention in 2005. Patterns of inequality in prioritized (spearhead) areas were not found to be significantly different from health inequalities in non-spearhead areas.
Source: Joan Costa-Font, Cristina Hernandez-Quevedo and Alistair McGuire, Persistence Despite Action? Measuring the Patterns of Health Inequality in England (1997-2007), Working Paper 20/2010, LSE Health and Social Care/London School of Economics
Links: Discussion paper
Date: 2010-Nov
Researchers found that children growing up in Sure Start local programme (SSLP) areas were less likely to be overweight than comparable children in non-SSLP areas, and had better physical health. Mothers in SSLP areas reported: providing a more stimulating home learning environment for their children; providing a less chaotic home environment for their children; experiencing greater life satisfaction; engaging in less harsh discipline; experiencing more depressive symptoms; being less likely to visit their child's school for parent/teacher meetings or other arranged visits.
Source: National Evaluation of Sure Start, The Impact of Sure Start Local Programmes on Five Year Olds and Their Families, Research Report RR067, Department for Education
Links: Report | Brief | NIACE press release | Guardian report | Community Care report | Nursery World report
Date: 2010-Nov
A study examined the effect of deprivation on childhood obesity levels among ethnic groups in London.
Source: Alexandra Cronberg, Helen Munro Wild, Justine Fitzpatrick and Bobbie Jacobson, Causes of Childhood Obesity in London: Diversity or poverty? The effect of deprivation on childhood obesity levels among ethnic groups in London, London Health Observatory
Links: Report
Date: 2010-Nov
A report examined the role of local government in supporting health improvement and tackling health inequalities, and analyzed the structure of support needed locally to deliver effective action for communities.
Source: Janet Sillett, All's Well that Ends Well? Local government leading on health improvement, Local Government Information Unit
Date: 2010-Nov
A report by a committee of MPs expressed 'great concern' over increases in health inequalities. The Department of Health had not met the target to reduce health inequalities, and had been 'exceptionally slow' in tackling them – taking years to set the issue as an National Health Service priority, and to produce evidence about how intervention in deprived areas could be delivered cost-effectively.
Source: Tackling Inequalities in Life Expectancy in Areas with the Worst Health and Deprivation, Third Report (Session 2010-11), HC 470, House of Commons Public Accounts Select Committee/TSO
Links: Report | BMA press release | Telegraph report | Guardian report | Public Finance report
Date: 2010-Nov
An article examined changes in inequality in disability-free life expectancy over time between local areas in England, grouped according to relative deprivation. The prevalence of limiting long-standing illness or disability (LLSI) among both males and females rose incrementally with increasing levels of deprivation in both periods examined. Males and females in the most deprived areas were more than 1.5 times more likely to report LLSI compared with those in the least deprived areas.
Source: Michael Smith, Olugbenga Olatunde and Chris White, 'Inequalities in disability-free life expectancy by area deprivation: England, 2001-04 and 2005-08', Health Statistics Quarterly 48, Winter 2010, Office for National Statistics
Links: Article
Date: 2010-Nov
The government published a report on progress in improving healthcare for people with learning disabilities (in line with the recommendation of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman and Local Government Ombudsman in their March 2009 investigation 'Six Lives'.)
Source: Six Lives: Progress Report, Department of Health
Links: Report | Ombudsman press release | Ombudsman report (2009) | Mencap press release | Community Care report
Date: 2010-Oct
A new book examined the development of children's centres. It looked at the challenges faced by children's centres; how to tackle social issues through the medium of children's centres; achieving effective multi-agency working and true collaboration; the essentials of leading and managing children's centres; the benefits of early intervention; and how to effectively deliver healthcare, education, and children's services.
Source: Carole Beaty, Integrated Children's Centres: Overcoming barriers to truly integrated services, Routledge
Links: Summary
Date: 2010-Oct
A think-tank report said that the government needed to make 'good work' central to its health inequalities and jobs strategies. A happier, more fulfilled workforce would create a more productive economy and a more equal society – and consequently be less of a burden on stretched National Health Service resources.
Source: Howard Stoate and Bryan Jones, Work, the Grand Cure: How changing the way Britain works will be good for our health, Fabian Society
Links: Summary
Date: 2010-Oct
An article examined the interface between policy, implementation, and use of services in the context of a multi-ethnic Sure Start programme. The depiction of parents as active and aspirational agents tapped into a 'social investment' agenda: but it conflicted with the 'constrained agency' in practice of many local mothers.
Source: Tricia Hamm, 'Examining "social investment" policy in a multi-ethnic Sure Start area: staff perspectives', Social Policy and Society, Volume 9 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Oct
An article examined the confluence of environmental characteristics that potentially functioned as key mechanisms to account for the socio-economic gradient in health outcomes. At the national level, multiple environmental deprivation increased as the degree of income deprivation rose. Area-level health progressively worsened as the multiple environmental deprivation increased. There was a need to consider the social and political processes that led to income-deprived populations bearing a disproportionate burden of multiple environmental deprivation.
Source: Jamie Pearce, Elizabeth Richardson, Richard Mitchell and Niamh Shortt, 'Environmental justice and health: the implications of the socio-spatial distribution of multiple environmental deprivation for health inequalities in the United Kingdom', Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, Volume 35 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Oct
A report summarized the most recent evidence on the health status of people with learning disabilities and the determinants of the health inequalities they faced.
Source: Eric Emerson and Susannah Baines, Health Inequalities & People with Learning Disabilities in the UK: 2010, Improving Health and Lives Learning Disabilities Observatory
Links: Report
Date: 2010-Oct
A report examined what local government could do to tackle the social conditions that led to health inequalities.
Source: Fiona Campbell (ed.), The Social Determinants of Health and the Role of Local Government, Improvement and Development Agency
Date: 2010-Oct
An official advisory body called for the reorganization of maternity services in order to improve access to, and uptake of, antenatal care. Too many women in difficult social circumstances were not using maternity services, with potentially negative consequences for their own health and for that of their baby.
Source: Pregnancy and Complex Social Factors: A model for service provision for pregnant women with complex social factors, National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
Links: Guidelines | NIHCE press release | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2010-Sep
An article examined the extent to which differences between and within regions in the social gradient in self-rated general health in England were associated with differences in rates of worklessness.
Source: Clare Bambra and Frank Popham, 'Worklessness and regional differences in the social gradient in general health: evidence from the 2001 English Census', Health and Place, Volume 16 Issue 5
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Sep
An article examined the link between urban deprivation and health. Although deprivation was a fundamental determinant of health – and, therefore, an important driver of mortality – it was only one part of a complex picture. As currently measured, deprivation did not explain the higher levels of mortality experienced by Glasgow (a city in Scotland) in relation to two very similar cities in northern England.
Source: David Walsh, Neil Bendel, Richard Jones and Phil Hanlon, 'It's not "just deprivation": why do equally deprived UK cities experience different health outcomes?', Public Health, Volume 124 Issue 9
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Sep
Researchers estimated the intergenerational correlation of over 60 outcomes targeted under the government's 'Every Child Matters' agenda. There were very strong correlations between parents and children in their educational aspirations and expectations, specifically their desire to gain education over and above the legal requirement. There were also some patterns of correlations in health outcomes. This suggested that if policy could alter parents' attitudes towards education, good behaviour, and decisions to smoke or drink, there might be an impact on the choices of the next generation.
Source: Jo Blanden, Stephen Machin, Richard Murphy and Emma Tominey, Research on the Intergenerational Links in the Every Child Matters Outcomes, CEE Special Report 005, Department for Education
Links: Report
Date: 2010-Sep
An article examined whether deprived areas were less responsive to health promotion activity, or whether they were less exposed to it. The relationship between area deprivation and the impact of health promotion might be due, at least in part, to differential levels of exposure.
Source: Corina Chivu and Daniel Reidpath, 'Social deprivation and exposure to health promotion: a study of the distribution of health promotion resources to schools in England', BMC Public Health, Volume 10
Date: 2010-Aug
An article presented estimates of mortality rates in England and Wales for men of working age by socio-economic classification for the period 2001-2008 – the first time that annual intercensal estimates had been produced. There had been a steady decrease in mortality rates for all classes over the period. Absolute differences between the mortality of the least and most advantaged classes showed a small decline based on three different measures: but relative differences increased over this period.
Source: Ann Langford and Brian Johnson, 'Trends in social inequalities in male mortality, 2001-08: intercensal estimates for England and Wales', Health Statistics Quarterly 47, Autumn 2010, Office for National Statistics
Links: Article | ONS press release
Date: 2010-Aug
A report said that people in England from the poorest backgrounds were more likely than other groups to end their lives in hospital, rather than their own homes.
Source: Kate Ruth, Andrew Pring and Julia Verne, Variations in Place of Death in England: Inequalities or appropriate consequences of age, gender and cause of death?, National End of Life Care Intelligence Network
Links: Report | NEoLCIN press release | CSP press release | Guardian report
Date: 2010-Aug
The schools inspectorate for Northern Ireland said that 'satisfactory to good' progress had been made in the early development of Sure Start programme for children aged 2.
Source: An Evaluation of the SureStart Programme for Two Year Olds, Education and Training Inspectorate
Links: Report | NIE press release
Date: 2010-Jul
A think-tank report challenged the claim (made in a book entitled The Spirit Level) that income inequality decreased life expectancy.
Source: Nima Sanandaji, Arvid Malm and Tino Sanandaji, The Spirit Illusion: A critical analysis of how 'The Spirit Level' compares countries, TaxPayers Alliance
Links: Report | TPA press release | Guardian report
Date: 2010-Jul
An article examined the variation between deprived areas in the extent to which health inequalities were narrowing.
Source: Tim Blackman and Katie Dunstan, 'Qualitative comparative analysis and health inequalities: investigating reasons for differential progress with narrowing local gaps in mortality', Journal of Social Policy, Volume 39 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Jul
An article said that inequalities in premature mortality between areas of Britain continued to rise steadily during the first decade of the 21st century. The last time that inequalities had been almost as high was in the lead-up to the economic crash of 1929 and the economic depression of the 1930s.
Source: Bethan Thomas, Danny Dorling and George Davey Smith, 'Inequalities in premature mortality in Britain: observational study from 1921 to 2007', British Medical Journal, 22 July 2010
Links: Article | Abstract | Telegraph report | Guardian report
Date: 2010-Jul
An audit report said that the former Labour government had made a serious attempt to tackle health inequalities across England. But after a target was set in 2000 to reduce health inequalities, it took time to embed the issue in the policy and planning framework of the National Health Service and to develop an evidence base of the most cost-effective interventions.
Source: Tackling Inequalities in Life Expectancy in Areas with the Worst Health and Deprivation, HC 186 (Session 2010-11), National Audit Office/TSO
Links: Report | NAO press release | NHS Confederation press release | Guardian report | BBC report
Date: 2010-Jul
The Scottish Government published a taskforce report on implementing three linked policy frameworks designed to address the underlying causes of health and other related inequalities. The review confirmed that the frameworks remained the best approach to deliver long-term improvements in outcomes.
Source: Equally Well Review 2010: Report by the Ministerial Task Force on implementing Equally Well, the Early Years Framework and Achieving Our Potential, Scottish Government
Links: Report
Date: 2010-Jun
An article examined regional variations in health inequalities in England.
Source: Amy Ellis and Robert Fry, 'Regional health inequalities in England', Regional Trends 42: 2010 edition, Office for National Statistics
Links: Article | ONS press release | Nursing Times report
Date: 2010-Jun
A report called on doctors to make addressing the social determinants of health part of their everyday medical practice, reducing where they could the inequitable burden of disease.
Source: How Doctors Can Close the Gap: Tackling the social determinants of health through culture change, advocacy and education, Royal College of Physicians
Links: Report
Date: 2010-Jun
An article examined the impact of pay-for-performance programmes on inequalities in the quality of healthcare in relation to age, sex, ethnicity, and socio-economic status. There was 'some weak evidence' that the use of financial incentives reduced inequalities in chronic disease management between socio-economic groups.
Source: Riyadh Alshamsan, Azeem Majeed, Mark Ashworth, Josip Car and Christopher Millett, 'Impact of pay for performance on inequalities in health care: systematic review', Journal of Health Services Research and Policy, Volume 15 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Jun
An article evaluated a health improvement initiative aimed at enhancing the health of men in deprived areas.
Source: Mark Robinson, Steve Robertson, Jo McCullagh and Sue Hacking, 'Working towards men's health: findings from the Sefton men's health project', Health Education Journal, Volume 69 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Jun
An article said that public spending cuts announced in the 2010 Budget could cause up to 38,000 extra deaths over the following decade. Reductions in welfare payments, and the 25 per cent cut in spending across many government departments, could lead to an increase in heart attacks and alcohol-related illnesses.
Source: David Stuckler, Sanjay Basu and Martin McKee, 'Budget crises, health, and social welfare programmes', British Medical Journal, 24 June 2010
Links: Article | Oxford University press release | Guardian report | Ekklesia report | BBC report
Date: 2010-Jun
A briefing paper examined the contribution of social work and social care to the reduction of health inequalities. There was no systematic body of research evidence that focused on whether social work and social care had a direct effect on the distribution of health outcomes at the individual or population level: but social work and social care practitioners worked with some of the most disadvantaged groups, and this offered many opportunities to improve the lifetime health of those most at risk.
Source: Esther Coren, Wendy Iredale, Paul Bywaters, Deborah Rutter and Julie Robinson, The Contribution of Social Work and Social Care to the Reduction of Health Inequalities: Four case studies, Research Briefing 33, Social Care Institute for Excellence
Links: Briefing
Date: 2010-Jun
The report of an official review (presented to ministers in November 2009) said that all patients with conditions 'likely to last over six months' should be eligible for free prescriptions in England.
Source: Ian Gilmore, Prescription Charges Review: Implementing exemption from prescription charges for people with long term conditions, Department of Health
Links: Report | Hansard | Citizens Advice press release | BMA press release | Mind press release | Pulse report | BBC report
Date: 2010-May
An article examined ethnic and social inequalities in women's experience of maternity care in England. Minority-ethnic women, lone mothers, and those with an earlier age at completing education accessed maternity services late, had poorer outcomes, and reported poorer experiences across some – though not all – dimensions of maternity care.
Source: Veena Raleigh, David Hussey, Ian Seccombe and Karen Hallt, 'Ethnic and social inequalities in women's experience of maternity care in England: results of a national survey', Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, Volume 103 Issue 5
Links: Article | Guardian report
Date: 2010-May
A study examined the relationship between human capital (measured by highest education levels and basic skills) and three health-related outcomes – drinking, smoking, and body weight.
Source: Augustin de Coulon, Elena Meschi and Marisa Yates, Education, Basic Skills and Health-Related Outcomes, National Research and Development Centre for Adult Literacy and Numeracy
Links: Report
Date: 2010-May
An article examined the potential of the General Household Survey to provide an inter-censal measure of health expectancies in small areas experiencing differing degrees of deprivation.
Source: Michael Smith, Olugbenga Olatunde and Chris White, 'Monitoring inequalities in health expectancies in England – small area analyses from the Census 2001 and General Household Survey 2001-05', Health Statistics Quarterly 46, Summer 2010, Office for National Statistics
Links: Article
Date: 2010-May
An article examined the notion of 'hard to reach', and perceptions of the barriers and facilitators to accessing health/social care services for 'hard to reach' groups, from a voluntary and community sector perspective.
Source: Sarah Flanagan and Beverley Hancock, '"Reaching the hard to reach": lessons learned from the VCS (voluntary and community sector) – a qualitative study', BMC Health Services Research, Volume 10
Links: Article
Date: 2010-Apr
An article reported ethnographic fieldwork in a 'Social Inclusion Partnership' in Scotland. It said that policy-makers and public health practitioners needed a better understanding of the difficulties involved in implementing partnership and participation initiatives in this kind of context.
Source: Sandra Carlisle, 'Tackling health inequalities and social exclusion through partnership and community engagement? A reality check for policy and practice aspirations from a Social Inclusion Partnership in Scotland', Critical Public Health, Volume 20 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Mar
The government announced that two investigations would be conducted into the standards of healthcare for people with learning disabilities.
Source: Press release 23 March 2010, Department of Health
Links: DH press release | Bristol University press release
Date: 2010-Mar
A report by a committee of MPs called on the government to resist short-term financial pressure to reduce the number of Sure Start centres or the range of services that they offered. Only a universal service could ensure that all vulnerable children got the access they needed; and the wide range of support and activities provided to families was a vital feature of the programme. Stable funding was essential. Most centres had been in place for less than four years, and evaluations of their impact would therefore only be meaningful over the long term.
Source: Sure Start Children's Centres, Fifth Report (Session 2009-10), HC 130, House of Commons Children, Schools and Families Select Committee/TSO
Links: Report | 4Children press release | Guardian report | BBC report | New Start report | Children & Young People Now report
Date: 2010-Mar
A report examined how well the primary healthcare needs of vulnerable groups were being met. It concluded that considerable progress had been made: but also highlighted that socially excluded groups often had complex needs and required a sophisticated and flexible response from service providers.
Source: Inclusion Health: Improving the way we meet the primary health care needs of the socially excluded, Social Exclusion Task Force/Cabinet Office
Links: Report
Note: The new coalition government has removed the report from the Cabinet Office website.
Date: 2010-Mar
A study examined the health needs and relative healthcare costs of people who were homeless or living in certain types of insecure or short-term accommodation. This group used around 4 times more acute hospital services than the general population. For inpatient costs, the figure rose to 8 times when the client group was compared with the general population aged 16-64. The most common reasons for admission included toxicity, alcohol, drugs, and mental health problems.
Source: Healthcare for Single Homeless People, Department of Health
Links: Report
Date: 2010-Mar
The government announced a freeze in National Health Service prescription charges for 2010-11.
Source: Written Ministerial Statement 25 March 2010, columns 60WS, House of Commons Hansard/TSO
Links: Hansard
Date: 2010-Mar
An audit report examined progress on improving health and reducing health inequalities in England. In 2009-10 the National Health Service allocated £21 billion to primary care trusts in order to reflect differences in health inequalities. Overall health improvements included cuts in infant mortality and increases in life expectancy: but this had coincided with a widening gap between those on low incomes and the better off. There might have been too much policy and guidance for PCTs and local authorities to keep track of.
Source: Healthy Balance: A review of public health performance and spending, Audit Commission
Links: Report | Audit Commission press release | Telegraph report | Nursing Times report
Date: 2010-Mar
A paper examined evidence for an income gradient in children's mental health – a tendency for low family income to be associated with poor mental health. It concluded that research findings in this area might not be very robust, and that findings should be treated with caution and interpreted in relation to the source of health assessments used for the analysis.
Source: David Johnston, Carol Propper, Stephen Pudney and Michael Shields, Is There an Income Gradient in Child Health? It Depends Whom You Ask, Working Paper 2010-08, Institute for Social and Economic Research/University of Essex
Links: Working paper
Date: 2010-Mar
An article examined inequalities in healthy life expectancy (HLE) by socio-economic position in England. A predominantly linear relationship was present with HLE increasing with rising social class. The differences observed in HLE at birth and at age 65 between people assigned to the professional and unskilled manual social classes were statistically significant and substantial, demonstrating a clear social inequality in the amount of life, the quality of those years lived, the absolute number of healthy life years, and thus the relative proportion of life spent in 'good' or 'fairly good' health.
Source: Chris White and Grace Edgar, 'Inequalities in healthy life expectancy by social class and area type: England, 2001-03', Health Statistics Quarterly 45, Spring 2010, Office for National Statistics
Links: Article | ONS press release | TAEN press release
Date: 2010-Feb
A report examined interventions designed to improve health outcomes for residents in New Deal for Communities areas, and explored their subsequent impact.
Source: Sarah Pearson with Elaine Batty, Beverly Cook, Mike Foden, Rachael Knight-Fordham and Jean Peters, Improving Health Outcomes in Deprived Communities: Evidence from the New Deal for Communities programme, Department for Communities and Local Government
Links: Report | DCLG press release
Date: 2010-Feb
An article examined the characterization and measurement of income-related health inequality using longitudinal data. It proposed a new index of 'income-related health mobility' that measured whether the pattern of health changes was biased in favour of those with initially high or low incomes. It illustrated the proposal by reference to data on psychological well-being from the British Household Panel Survey 1991-1999.
Source: Paul Allanson, Ulf-G. Gerdtham and Dennis Petrie, 'Longitudinal analysis of income-related health inequality', Journal of Health Economics, Volume 29 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Feb
An article examined inequalities in disability-free expectancy (DFLE) by socio-economic position in England. A predominantly linear relationship was present with DFLE increasing with rising social class. The differences observed in DFLE at birth and at age 65 between people assigned to the professional and unskilled manual social classes were statistically significant and substantial, demonstrating a clear social inequality in the amount of life, the functional health status during those years lived, their absolute number, and thus the relative proportion of life spent free from a limiting long-term illness or disability.
Source: Chris White and Grace Edgar, 'Inequalities in disability-free life expectancy by social class and area type: England, 2001-03', Health Statistics Quarterly 45, Spring 2010, Office for National Statistics
Links: Article | TAEN press release
Date: 2010-Feb
An article examined the importance of childhood socio-economic conditions in predicting differences in life expectancy – using data from a large sample of children collected in England and Scotland in 1937-1939, who had been traced through official death records up to 2005. Childhood conditions such as household income and the quality of the home environment were significant predictors of longevity, although the effect appeared to differ across cause of death. The difference in life expectancy between those with the 'best' and 'worst' observable characteristics was about 9 years.
Source: Paul Frijters, Timothy Hatton, Richard Martin and Michael Shields, 'Childhood economic conditions and length of life: evidence from the UK Boyd Orr cohort, 1937-2005', Journal of Health Economics, Volume 29 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Feb
An article examined a comparative study of how local actors tackled health inequalities in England, Scotland, and Wales – focusing on how health inequalities were framed for intervention by performance assessment systems. Both divergence and convergence in themes across the three countries revealed narrative patterns that drew on 'discourses rather than evidence'. The nature of national performance audit regimes appeared to play an important part in shaping these discourses, which were themselves evolving, partly in interaction with local feedback.
Source: Tim Blackman et al., 'Wicked comparisons: reflections on cross-national research about health inequalities in the UK', Evaluation: The International Journal of Theory, Research and Practice, Volume 16 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Feb
The report of an independent review (chaired by Michael Marmot) examined the most effective evidence-based strategies for reducing health inequalities in England from 2010. It said that reducing health inequalities was a matter of fairness and social justice: health inequalities resulted from social inequalities, and action on health inequalities required action across all the social determinants of health. Reducing health inequalities would require action on six policy objectives: giving every child the best start in life; enabling all children, young people, and adults to maximize their capabilities and have control over their lives; creating fair employment and good work for all; ensuring a healthy standard of living for all; creating and developing healthy and sustainable places and communities; and strengthening the role and impact of ill-health prevention.
Source: Fair Society, Healthy Lives, The Marmot Review
Links: Report | Summary | UCL press release | DH press release | NICE press release | RCGP press release | NHS Confederation press release | Kings Fund press release | IDeA press release | SDC press release | Sainsbury Centre press release | MHF press release | ASH press release | St Mungos press release | CIH press release | Guardian report | BBC report | Local Government Chronicle report | Community Care report
Date: 2010-Feb
An article examined variations in alcohol-related mortality in England and Wales in relation to socio-economic deprivation, urban-rural location, and age. Large inequalities were found in alcohol-related mortality between sub-groups of the population. These should be considered when designing public health policies to reduce alcohol-related harm.
Source: Sally Erskine, Ravi Maheswaran, Tim Pearson and Dermot Gleeson, 'Socioeconomic deprivation, urban-rural location and alcohol-related mortality in England and Wales', BMC Public Health, Volume 10
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Feb
A paper (based on a seminar held in 2009) said that public services did not routinely collect data on mental health inequalities, and that the information they did collect was not used to its full potential. It called for better information to be collected, and used to measure inequalities in mental health and the life-chances of people with mental health problems.
Source: Mental Health Inequalities: Measuring what counts, Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health
Links: Paper
Date: 2010-Feb
An article reported a study that found that cancer patients from deprived areas in England were more likely to have a late diagnosis and be admitted to hospital as an emergency.
Source: Rosalind Raine et al., 'Social variations in access to hospital care for patients with colorectal, breast, and lung cancer between 1999 and 2006: retrospective analysis of hospital episode statistics', British Medical Journal, 14 January 2010
Links: Article | Abstract | BBC report
Date: 2010-Jan
A report examined health inequalities in Scotland between different population groups. Across most population groups, there was a repeated finding of diminished mental health because of the effects on well-being of experiencing personal prejudice, collective discrimination, and structural exclusion from full and fair participation in Scotland's material prosperity, social life, and power structures.
Source: David Gordon, Lynn Graham, Mark Robinson and Martin Taulbut, Dimensions of Diversity: Population differences and health improvement opportunities, NHS Health Scotland
Links: Report | Nursing Times report
Date: 2010-Jan
The results were published of the 2009 ethnic census of inpatients and patients on supervised community treatment in mental health and learning disability services in England and Wales. The report said that the National Health Service, local councils, and wider community bodies should improve preventative services to ensure that they met the mental health needs of people from black and minority-ethnic groups. There was a need for better local strategic needs assessments and bespoke community-based services to reduce the risk of admission and detention.
Source: Count Me In 2009, Care Quality Commission
Links: Report | CQC press release | Mind press release | MHF press release | Community Care report
Date: 2010-Jan
Four linked reviews found widespread evidence of the unjustified differential treatment of older people as a group in both health and social care services.
Source: Angela Clark, Ageism and Age Discrimination in Primary and Community Health Care in the United Kingdom: A review from the literature, Centre for Policy on Ageing | Nat Lievesley, Ageism and Age Discrimination in Secondary Health Care in the United Kingdom: A review from the literature, Centre for Policy on Ageing | Nat Lievesley, Ageism and Age Discrimination in Mental Health Care in the United Kingdom: A review from the literature, Centre for Policy on Ageing | Angela Clark, Ageism and Age Discrimination in Social Care in the United Kingdom: A review from the literature, Centre for Policy on Ageing
Links: Report (1) | Report (2) | Report (3) | Report (4) | CPA press release
Date: 2010-Jan
