The fair trading watchdog said that it had provisionally decided to refer the market for privately funded healthcare services to the competition watchdog for further investigation. It had found a number of features that prevented, restricted or distorted competition in the private healthcare market – including a lack of easily comparable information available to patients, family doctors, and health insurance providers on the quality and costs of private healthcare services.
Source: Private Healthcare Market Study: Report on the market study and proposed decision to make a market investigation reference, Office of Fair Trading
Links: Report | OFT press release | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2011-Dec
An article examined whether childhood psychosocial factors (cognitive ability, psychosocial adjustment, and parental involvement) were important in the association between childhood socio-economic position and adult smoking status over and above educational attainment. The findings added to the evidence base that childhood disadvantage was associated with adult smoking behaviours, and highlighted the importance of the early childhood social environment for the development of these.
Source: Rebecca Lacey, Noriko Cable, Mai Stafford, Mel Bartley, and Hynek Pikhart, 'Childhood socio-economic position and adult smoking: are childhood psychosocial factors important? Evidence from a British birth cohort', European Journal of Public Health, Volume 21 Number 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Dec
An article compared the effect of income on self-reported poor health across European countries. There was significant income-related variation in self-reported poor health between different countries even if the levels of income or the standards of living were comparable. For women, income affected self-reported poor health differently from men. The effect of income on self-reported poor health depended on the age of the individual respondent.
Source: Carina Furnee, Wim Groot, and Gerard Pfann, 'Health and income: a meta-analysis to explore cross-country, gender and age differences', European Journal of Public Health, Volume 21 Number 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Dec
An article examined the potential for a national innovation fund in Wales to stimulate local action to reduce health inequalities. National funds could be a useful lever for change if appropriately conceived, designed, and implemented: but in the context of competing healthcare and other policy priorities, 'good practice' was often difficult to achieve, and somewhat simplistic incentives were often subverted locally, diluting the original purpose of the initiative.
Source: Marcus Longley, Mark Llewellyn, Tony Beddow, David Cohen, Jeremy Corson, and Morton Warner, 'A national health inequalities fund for Wales: concept, design and implementation', Health Policy, Volume 103 Issues 2-3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Dec
An article examined the effect of education on self-assessed health across European countries, taking into account potential confounders such as age, gender, and family social background. It considered whether countries differed in their average self-assessed health score. It tested a hypothesis concerning the existence of a European social gradient – that education exerted a relatively constant effect on self-assessed health.
Source: Sara Della Bella, Simone Sarti, Mario Lucchini, and Mara Tognetti Bordogna, 'A comparative analysis of inequality in health across Europe', Sociological Research Online, Volume 16 Issue 4
Links: Article
Date: 2011-Dec
An article said that lower-educated individuals in European countries not only had shorter life expectancies but also faced greater uncertainty about the age at which they would die. More priority should be given to efforts to reduce the risk of an early death among lower-educated groups, for example by strengthening protective policies within and outside the healthcare system.
Source: Alyson van Raalte, Anton Kunst, Patrick Deboosere, Mall Leinsalu, Olle Lundberg, Pekka Martikainen, Bjorn Heine Strand, Barbara Artnik, Bogdan Wojtyniak, and Johan Mackenbach, 'More variation in lifespan in lower educated groups: evidence from 10 European countries', International Journal of Epidemiology, Volume 40 Number 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Dec
An article examined social inequalities in health as people aged, using longitudinal data from the west of Scotland. There was a general belief that social inequalities in health appeared to narrow at older ages: but taking account of selective mortality and employing more proximal measures of socio-economic status removed this convergence, suggesting that inequalities in health continued into old age.
Source: Michaela Benzeval, Michael Green, and Alastair Leyland, 'Do social inequalities in health widen or converge with age? Longitudinal evidence from three cohorts in the West of Scotland', BMC Public Health, Volume 11
Date: 2011-Dec
An article examined the effects of choice and competition policies in healthcare in England by using subjective well-being as an indicator of welfare and equity. The results indicated overall positive welfare effects of choice and competition, but with marked differences between social groups: the positive welfare effects were felt most strongly by high-income and high-education groups.
Source: Valentina Zigante, 'Subjective well-being as a measure of welfare and equity: the case of choice policies in health care', CESifo Economic Studies, Volume 57 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Dec
An article examined whether father's occupational position, education, and height could be used to predict mortality, using British and French data. The association between early life socio-economic circumstances and mortality depended on the socio-economic indicator used and the cause of death examined. Height was not a straightforward measure of early life socio-economic circumstances, as taller people did not have a health advantage for all mortality outcomes.
Source: Silvia Stringhini, Aline Dugravot, Mika Kivimaki, Martin Shipley, Marie Zins, Marcel Goldberg, Jane Ferrie, and Archana Singh-Manoux, 'Do different measures of early life socioeconomic circumstances predict adult mortality? Evidence from the British Whitehall II and French GAZEL studies', Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, Volume 65 Number 12
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Nov
A report examined the social value judgements about equity in health and healthcare that NICE (the advisory body on value for money in healthcare) had hitherto used to guide its decision-making.
Source: Koonal Shah, Richard Cookson Anthony Culyer, and Peter Littlejohns, NICE's Social Value Judgements About Equity in Health and Health Care, Research Paper 70, Centre for Health Economics (University of York)
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Nov
An article examined socio-economic differences in life expectancy and health expectancy around retirement age in west European countries. People who were more highly educated lived longer in good health before retirement and could expect to live longer afterwards.
Source: Istvan Majer, Wilma Nusselder, Johan Mackenbach, and Anton Kunst, 'Socioeconomic inequalities in life and health expectancies around official retirement age in 10 western-European countries', Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, Volume 65 Number 11
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Nov
A new book examined the relationships between poverty, reduced health chances, co-operative social networks, and social capital. It highlighted the significance of different social network patterns for mediating disadvantage and happiness.
Source: Vicky Cattell, Poverty, Community and Health: Co-operation and the good society, Palgrave Macmillan
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Nov
An article examined inequalities in health expectancies at older ages in Europe. Substantial inequalities between countries were evident on all health expectancies. However, these differed across the disablement process, which could indicate environmental, technological, healthcare, or other factors that might delay progression from disease to disability.
Source: Carol Jagger, Claire Weston, Emmanuelle Cambois, Herman Van Oyen, Wilma Nusselder, Gabriele Doblhammer, Jitka Rychtarikova, and Jean-Marie Robine, 'Inequalities in health expectancies at older ages in the European Union: findings from the Survey of Health and Retirement in Europe (SHARE)', Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, Volume 65 Number 11
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Nov
An article examined two different approaches to measuring the association between health at mid-life and early life socio-economic status.
Source: Gareth Hagger-Johnson, David Batty, Ian Deary, and Sophie von Stumm, 'Childhood socioeconomic status and adult health: comparing formative and reflective models in the Aberdeen Children of the 1950s Study (prospective cohort study)', Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, Volume 65 Number 11
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Nov
An article examined the contribution of various material, occupational, and psycho-social factors to social inequalities in health in Europe. Significant social differences were observed for self-reported health. Strong social gradients were found for almost all potential mediating factors, and almost all displayed significant associations with self-reported health.
Source: Benedicte Aldabe, Robert Anderson, Maija Lyly-Yrjanainen, Agnes Parent-Thirion, Greet Vermeylen, Cecily Kelleher, and Isabelle Niedhammer, 'Contribution of material, occupational, and psychosocial factors in the explanation of social inequalities in health in 28 countries in Europe', Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, Volume 65 Number 12
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Nov
A study found that there appeared to be a link between poor health in early life and economic status in adulthood; and that people in lower-status occupations suffered from poorer health than others.
Source: Marko Elovainio, Jane Ferrie, Archana Singh-Manoux, Martin Shipley, David Batty, Jenny Head, Mark Hamer, Markus Jokela, Marianna Virtanen, Eric Brunner, Michael Marmot, and Mika Kivimaki, ' Socioeconomic differences in cardiometabolic factors: social causation or health-related selection? Evidence from the Whitehall II Cohort Study, 1991-2004', American Journal of Epidemiology, Volume 174 Issue 7
Links: Abstract | Guardian report
Date: 2011-Oct
A report examined access to healthcare for irregular migrants in the European Union. Irregular migrants often faced increased risk to their health from poor living and working conditions. At the same time their access to healthcare was limited due to legal, economic, and practical obstacles. Excluding irregular migrants from healthcare endangered their lives and well-being, increased the cost of future emergency treatment, and posed a health risk to the wider community.
Source: Migrants in an Irregular Situation: Access to healthcare in 10 European Union member states, Fundamental Rights Agency (European Commission)
Links: Report | FRA press release
Date: 2011-Oct
An article examined the experiences of policy-makers and planners involved in decision making to reduce health inequalities in England. Respondents felt constrained due to difficulties in partnership working and the overriding influence of other stakeholders in decision-making processes. The proposed public health reforms presented an opportunity to move away from the medical paradigm of the National Health Service: but they also revealed a reluctance by central government to contribute to shifting social norms.
Source: Lois Orton, Ffion Lloyd-Williams, David Taylor-Robinson, May Moonan , Martin O'Flaherty, and Simon Capewell, ' Prioritising public health: a qualitative study of decision making to reduce health inequalities', BMC Public Health, Volume 11
Date: 2011-Oct
A briefing paper examined health inequalities in Scotland. There was evidence that health inequalities across the Scottish population were increasing, despite efforts to tackle the problem.
Source: Pauline Craig, Focus on Inequalities: A Framework for Action, Briefing Paper 30, Glasgow Centre for Population Health
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Oct
Researchers examined change in socio-economic equity in healthcare utilization using small-area level administrative data for the English National Health Service from 2001 to 2008. Associations between deprivation and disease prevalence changed little during the period, indicating that observed need did not grow faster in more deprived areas than elsewhere. There was no substantial deterioration in socio-economic equity in healthcare utilization: if anything, there might have been a slight improvement.
Source: Richard Cookson, Mauro Laudicella, and Paolo Li Donni, Measuring Change in Health Care Equity Using Small Area Administrative Data: Evidence from the English NHS 2001-8, Research Paper 67, Centre for Health Economics (University of York)
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Oct
Researchers examined whether competition in hospital services undermined socio-economic equity in the utilization of care in the English National Health Service. A negative association was found between market dispersion and elective admissions in deprived areas: the effect of pro-competition reform was to reduce this negative association slightly, suggesting that competition did not undermine equity.
Source: Richard Cookson, Mauro Laudicella, and Paolo Li Donni, Does Hospital Competition Harm Equity? Evidence from the English National Health Service, Research Paper 66, Centre for Health Economics (University of York)
Links: Paper | York University press release
Date: 2011-Oct
A report examined how family doctors could use their expertise to act as community leaders in tackling health inequalities.
Source: Social Determinants of Health – What Doctors Can Do, British Medical Association
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Oct
A new book said that work – or a lack of it – was central to people's health and well-being, and was the underlying determinant of health inequalities.
Source: Clare Bambra, Work, Worklessness, and the Political Economy of Health, Oxford University Press
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Sep
An expert panel proposed improved methods for measuring health inequalities in Europe.
Source: A Spinakis, G Anastasiou, V Panousis, K Spiliopoulos, S Palaiologou, and J Yfantopoulos, Expert Review and Proposals for Measurement of Health Inequalities in the European Union, European Commission
Date: 2011-Sep
A report examined the social determinants of health, and health inequalities, in European countries. There were major health inequalities between and within countries. The average life expectancy differed between countries by 20 years for men and 12 years for women. Within countries, the levels of both health and life expectancy related to, and were graded by, social and economic position. But most health inequalities were avoidable by reasonable means, and reducing them was a matter of social justice.
Source: Michael Marmot et al., Interim Second Report on Social Determinants of Health and the Health Divide in the WHO European Region, World Health Organisation (Regional Office for Europe)
Links: Report | EPHA press release
Date: 2011-Sep
A new book examined Sure Start, a flagship programme of the former Labour governments (1997-2010). It looked at how Sure Start was set up, the numerous changes it went through, and how it had changed the landscape of services for young children in England.
Source: Naomi Eisenstadt, Providing a Sure Start: How government discovered early childhood, Policy Press
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Sep
An article examined the potential of the European Labour Force Survey as a complementary source for the measurement of health inequality.
Source: Stefano Mazzuco and Marc Suhrcke, 'Health inequalities in Europe: new insights from European Labour Force Surveys', Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, Volume 65 Number 9
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Sep
An annual report summarized what was known about the nature, extent, and determinants of health inequalities experienced by people with learning disabilities. It included a section focusing on health inequalities experienced by children and young people with learning disabilities.
Source: Eric Emerson, Susannah Baines, Lindsay Allerton, and Vicki Welch, Health Inequalities & People with Learning Disabilities in the UK: 2011, Improving Health and Lives Learning Disabilities Observatory
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Aug
An article used data from the 'Whitehall II' study to examine the joint evolution of health status and economic status over the life course. Early life socio-economic status was significantly associated with health over the life course, even though selection into Whitehall muted the effects of childhood. Holding a current position in the civil service was not associated with future self-assessed health: but current self-assessed health was significantly associated with promotion in the civil service.
Source: Anne Case and Christina Paxson, 'The long reach of childhood health and circumstance: evidence from the Whitehall II study', Economic Journal, Volume 121 Issue 554
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Aug
A report examined economic issues arising out of the evaluation of the impact of Sure Start local programmes in England. On average, the programmes cost around £1,300 per eligible child per year at 2009-10 prices. By the time children reached the age of 5, the programmes had already delivered economic benefits of between £279 and £557 per eligible child. The economic benefits of early childhood interventions could be high (and much higher than for interventions with similar levels of expenditure on adults): but they typically did not emerge until at least 15 years after the intervention began.
Source: National Evaluation of Sure Start Team (led by Pam Meadows), National Evaluation of Sure Start Local Programmes: An Economic Perspective, Research Report RR073, Department for Education
Date: 2011-Jul
A paper examined the effect of assets held in early adult life on later outcomes. Within the cohort examined (born in 1958), early asset holding did have positive effects on later wages, employment prospects, excellent general health, and in reducing malaise.
Source: Abigail McKnight, Estimates of the Asset-Effect: The search for a causal effect of assets on adult health and employment outcomes, CASEpaper 149, Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion (London School of Economics)
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Jul
The government began consultation on a new statement of the 'core purpose' of Sure Start children's centres. It defined their core purpose as:
• Child development and school readiness – supporting emotional, physical, and social development so that children started school confident and able to learn.
• Parenting aspirations and parenting skills – helping parents to maximize their skills and give their children the best start.
• Child and family health and life-chances – promoting good physical and mental health for children and their parents, including addressing risk factors early on.
Source: The 'Core Purpose' of Sure Start Children's Centres, Department for Education
Links: Consultation document | DE press release | Liberal Democrats press release | Daycare Trust press release | 4Children press release
Date: 2011-Jul
An article examined the strategy in England (1997-2010) to reduce socio-economic inequalities in health. Despite some partial successes, the strategy failed to reach its own targets (a 10 per cent reduction in inequalities in life expectancy and infant mortality). This was due to the fact that it did not address the most relevant entry points, did not use effective policies, and was not delivered on a large enough scale for achieving population-wide impacts.
Source: Johan Mackenbach, 'Can we reduce health inequalities? An analysis of the English strategy (1997-2010)', Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, Volume 65 Number 7
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jul
An article used qualitative data from three urban authorities to investigate how far children's centres differed from Sure Start local programmes, and how far they were more recognizably similar to one another than were Sure Start local programmes. Although children's centres differed from Sure Start local programmes in significant respects, they also differed from one another.
Source: Jane Lewis, Jonathan Roberts, and Cathy Finnegan, 'Making the transition from Sure Start local programmes to children's centres, 2003-2008', Journal of Social Policy, Volume 40 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Notes: Sure Start local programmes were an area-based early intervention scheme for children under 5 in England, set up in 1998: they were replaced in 2003 by children's centres – a universal, mainstream service under the control of local authorities.
Date: 2011-Jul
The equality and human rights watchdog said that new health commissioning bodies in the National Health Service in England should learn from the mistakes of their predecessors (strategic health authorities and primary care trusts) and take steps to meet their obligations under equality legislation to make a real difference to health outcomes.
Source: Tom Widger, Shelagh Prosser, Sheila Rogers, and Cleon Hutton, The Performance of the Health Sector in Meeting the Public Sector Equality Duties: Moving towards effective equality outcomes, Equality and Human Rights Commission
Links: Report | EHRC press release
Date: 2011-Jul
An article examined socio-economic inequalities in outcome of pregnancy and neonatal mortality associated with congenital anomalies. Antenatal screening for congenital anomalies had reduced neonatal mortality through termination of pregnancy: but socio-economic variation in decisions regarding termination of pregnancy after antenatal detection had resulted in wide socio-economic inequalities in live-born infants with a congenital anomaly and subsequent neonatal mortality.
Source: Lucy Smith, Judith Budd, David Field, and Elizabeth Draper, 'Socioeconomic inequalities in outcome of pregnancy and neonatal mortality associated with congenital anomalies: population based study ', British Medical Journal, 19 July 2011
Date: 2011-Jul
An article examined the link between education and health in European Union countries. Secondary education had a positive impact on health in most cases, and tertiary education in all cases. Better co-ordination was needed between education and health policies to improve health literacy.
Source: Cecilia Albert and Mar a Davia, 'Education is a key determinant of health in Europe: a comparative analysis of 11 countries', Health Promotion International, Volume 26 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jun
An article examined programmes to increase physical activity in deprived areas, and the characteristics of those who participated. Local authority-driven physical activity sessions in low-income communities had low levels of participation. Activities with roots in the community were most effective at attracting local participants, particularly men.
Source: Janet Withall, Russ Jago, and Ken Fox, 'Who attends physical activity programmes in deprived neighbourhoods?', Health Education Journal, Volume 70 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jun
A paper examined approaches used to incorporate equity considerations in the planning of healthcare interventions.
Source: Anthony Culyer and Yvonne Bombard, An Equity Checklist: A framework for health technology assessments, Research Paper 62, Centre for Health Economics (University of York)
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Jun
A report examined the potential role of scrutiny in helping local councils and their partners narrow gaps in health inequalities.
Source: Peeling the Onion: Learning, tips and tools from the Health Inequalities Scrutiny Programme, Centre for Public Scrutiny
Links: Report | CFPS press release
Date: 2011-May
An article examined similarities and differences in the policy content and political context of the three main government reports on health inequalities in England: the Black Report (1980), the Acheson Enquiry (1998), and the Marmot Review (2010). There were 'great similarities' and very few differences in terms of both the theoretical principles guiding the recommendations of these reports and the focus of the recommendations themselves.
Source: Clare Bambra, Katherine Smith, Kayleigh Garthwaite, Kerry Joyce, and David Hunter, 'A labour of Sisyphus? Public policy and health inequalities research from the Black and Acheson Reports to the Marmot Review', Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, Volume 65 Number 5
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-May
A briefing paper examined tobacco use among black and minority-ethnic populations. Although smoking rates had decreased by 7 per cent among the general population since 1998, this pattern had not been reflected among BME communities. BME groups were also more likely to use tobacco products, such as shisha and smokeless tobacco, that might be associated with poorer compliance with (and enforcement of) regulations on labelling and packaging.
Source: Deborah Millward and Saffron Karlsen, Tobacco Use Among Minority Ethnic Populations and Cessation Interventions, Better Health Briefing 22, Race Equality Foundation
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-May
An article examined the economic costs of socio-economic inequalities in health in the European Union. Inequality-related losses to health amounted to more than 700,000 deaths per year and 33 million prevalent cases of ill-health – with a monetary value estimated at €980 billion per year, or 9.4 per cent of aggregate national income.
Source: Johan Mackenbach, Willem Meerding, and Anton Kunst, 'Economic costs of health inequalities in the European Union', Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, Volume 65 Number 5
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-May
An article examined social inequalities in adult alcohol-related mortality in England and Wales. The mortality rate of men in the 'routine' class was 3.5 times those of men in higher and managerial occupations, while for women the corresponding figure was 5.7 times.
Source: Veronique Siegler, Alaa Al-Hamad, Brian Johnson, Claudia Wells, and Nick Sheron, 'Social inequalities in alcohol-related adult mortality by National Statistics Socio-Economic Classification, England and Wales, 2001-03', Health Statistics Quarterly 50, Summer 2011, Office for National Statistics
Links: Article | ONS press release
Date: 2011-May
A think-tank report said that there was no evidence that the pay-for-performance scheme for family doctors introduced in April 2004, known as the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF), had resulted in improved ill-health prevention or health promotion, or reduced health inequalities.
Source: Anna Dixon et al., Impact of Quality and Outcomes Framework on Health Inequalities, King s Fund
Links: Summary | Kings Fund press release
Date: 2011-Apr
A report evaluated the child development grant (CDG) pilot – aimed at encouraging economically deprived and disengaged parents through (cash) incentives to utilize the services offered by their local Sure Start children's centres (in particular those services that had a positive impact on the child's development and family).
Source: Philip Wilson, Louise O Neill, Andrew Cleary, and Toby Cotton, Evaluation of the Child Development Grant Pilot, Research Report RR099, Department for Education
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Apr
An article said that smokers from deprived communities required more intensive, flexible, and personalized support from smoking cessation services – which should ideally be located in their community setting. A more innovative, tailored, and less prescriptive approach might help to improve cessation rates among smokers in deprived communities.
Source: Hazel Henderson, Anjum Memon, Kate Lawson, Barbara Jacobs, and Eleni Koutsogeorgou, 'What factors are important in smoking cessation amongst deprived communities? A qualitative study', Health Education Journal, Volume 70 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Mar
An article examined social inequalities in stopping smoking. More needed to be done to encourage smokers from disadvantaged backgrounds to persevere through the first few weeks of treatment.
Source: Rosemary Hiscock, Ken Judge, and Linda Bauld, 'Social inequalities in quitting smoking: what factors mediate the relationship between socioeconomic position and smoking cessation?', Journal of Public Health, Volume 33 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Mar
An article examined the availability and affordability of a healthy food basket in two nearby localities, and modelled how those on low incomes might manage. It highlighted significant differences within relatively small areas, and the different experiences of groups in accessing healthy foods.
Source: Susan Lloyd et al., 'A tale of two localities: healthy eating on a restricted income', Health Education Journal, Volume 70 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Mar
An article examined the ways in which 'joined-up government' had been used to narrow health inequalities in England. Although joined-up government had helped to keep health inequalities on the policy agenda, the evidence from newly introduced structures and processes (such as targets and cross-departmental units/committees) suggested that it remained poorly integrated within government machinery.
Source: Mark Exworthy and David Hunter, 'The challenge of joined-up government in tackling health inequalities', International Journal of Public Administration, Volume 34 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Mar
A briefing paper examined the coalition government's policy of restricting the Sure Start maternity grant to the first child only in a family, from April 2011.
Source: Steven Kennedy, Restriction of the Sure Start Maternity Grant, Standard Note SN/SP/5860, House of Commons Library
Links: Briefing paper
Notes: The Sure Start Maternity Grant is a lump sum payment worth £500 per child paid to low-income families to assist with the cost of maternity and baby items.
Date: 2011-Feb
A set of key indicators was published for monitoring health inequalities, and the social determinants of health, for all 'upper tier' local authorities in England.
Source: Press release 11 February 2011, London Health Observatory
Links: Marmot indicators webpage | DH press release | BBC report | Telegraph report | Guardian report
Notes: The indicators were commissioned by the Marmot review of health inequalities (published February 2010).
Date: 2011-Feb
An article said that inequalities in all-cause mortality between the north and south of England were 'severe and persistent' over the period 1965-2008. The increase in inequalities from 2000 to 2008 was notable, and occurred despite the public policy emphasis in England on reducing inequalities in health.
Source: John Hacking, Sara Muller, and Iain Buchan, 'Trends in mortality from 1965 to 2008 across the English north-south divide: comparative observational study', British Medical Journal, 15 February 2011
Links: Article | Abstract | DH press release | Manchester University press release | Guardian report
Date: 2011-Feb
An article examined ways of tackling institutional racism in healthcare services.
Source: David Woodger and Jim Cowan, 'Institutional racism in healthcare services: using mainstream methods to develop a practical approach', Ethnicity and Inequalities in Health and Social Care, Volume 3 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Feb
An article examined the nature of the 'core offer' that children's centres were expected to provide, and the way in which they had pursued the goal of integrating staff and services. It highlighted the problems of balancing a focus on the child and on the parent; of reconciling childcare provision as part of the employability agenda and as a means to educational achievement for the child; of permitting local variation while achieving consistency; of the role of monitoring in relation to developing good practice; and of achieving integration in a mixed economy of care. Despite the greater specification of the core offer for children's centres compared with that for Sure Start, there were substantial differences between children's centres in terms of services, while the mixed economy of provision posed considerable challenges to the goal of integration.
Source: Jane Lewis, Rebecca Cuthbert, and Sophie Sarre, 'What are children's centres? The development of CC services, 2004-2008', Social Policy and Administration, Volume 45 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Feb
A report set out a 'business case' for appropriate investment in public health, prevention, and early years intervention in London. It said that early years interventions provided high returns on investment for both individuals and society in general.
Source: GLA Economics, Early Years Interventions to Address Health Inequalities in London: The Economic Case, Greater London Authority
Links: Report | Children & Young People Now report
Date: 2011-Jan
An article examined the challenges of meeting the welfare needs of new migrants, using data from studies of health service provision in Birmingham (England). Models of welfare provision need to be rethought in order to take into account the new reality of 'super-diversity'.
Source: Jenny Phillimore, 'Approaches to health provision in the age of super-diversity: accessing the NHS in Britain's most diverse city', Critical Social Policy, Volume 31 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jan
An article reported an ethnographic study into the experiences of parents and professionals involved with the implementation of a Sure Start multi-agency health and education early years programme. The policy shift to children's centres appeared to have entailed an erosion of social capital – contrary to the original purpose of empowering local communities.
Source: Carl Bagley, 'From Sure Start to children's centres: capturing the erosion of social capital', Journal of Education Policy, Volume 26 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jan
A report examined the evolution of the Sure Start programme. It said that there was strong evidence to support early intervention, given the nature and extent of the disadvantage and discrimination that many families faced. It highlighted the ways in which initiatives such as children's centres could provide support for vulnerable families, and provide the basis for 'community hubs' within a 'Big Society'.
Source: The Right Start: Sure Start, early intervention and the needs of vulnerable and disadvantaged children and families, Pre-school Learning Alliance
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Jan
An article highlighted the 'considerable change' involved in the transition from the Sure Start programme (targeted at deprived areas) to the universal provision of children's centres. It explored the reasons for the policy shift in terms of changes in the government's goals (on the one hand), and in relation to evidence of programme failure (on the other). It considered why the shift to children's centres was claimed by the government as continuity rather than change, and what this revealed about the nature of policy change.
Source: Jane Lewis, 'From Sure Start to children's centres: an analysis of policy change in English early years programmes', Journal of Social Policy, Volume 40 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jan
A report examined the different approaches taken in local areas in England to understanding race equality in health and healthcare.
Source: Culturally Responsive JSNAs: A review of race equality and joint strategic needs assessment (JSNA) practice, Local Government Improvement and Development
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Jan
A survey of Sure Start children's centre managers across England found that, over the next 12 months: 250 (7 per cent) would close or were expected to close, affecting an estimated 60,000 families; 2,000 (56 per cent) would provide a reduced service; 3,100 (86 per cent) would have a decreased budget; and staff at 1,000 centres (28 per cent) had been issued with 'at risk of redundancy' notices.
Source: Press release 28 January 2011, 4Children
Links: 4Children press release | Labour Party press release | BBC report | Telegraph report | Children & Young People Now report | Community Care report
Date: 2011-Jan
A study examined access to, and uptake of, health services by European migrant workers in the United Kingdom; and their experiences and perceptions of local health services. It also considered migrant workers' uptake of, and attitudes towards, health promotion activities – both in their country of origin and in the UK.
Source: Alex Collis, Neil Stott, and Danielle Ross, Workers on the Move 3: European Migrant Workers and Health in the UK – The evidence, Keystone Development Trust
Date: 2011-Jan
The government responded to a report by a committee of MPs on Sure Start children's centres. It said that it recognized the importance of children's centres, and believed that they had 'huge potential' as they brought together services in new and innovative ways. The network of children's centres was critical to its wider programme for children and families across government.
Source: Sure Start Children's Centres: Government Response to the Fifth Report from the Children, Schools and Families Committee, Session 2009 10, Fourth Special Report (Session 2010-11), HC 768, House of Commons Education Select Committee, TSO
Links: Response | NCT press release | Children & Young People Now report
Notes: The MPs' report (March 2010) had 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.
Date: 2011-Jan
