The term ‘health inequalities’ is used to describe the differences in morbidity, life expectancy and access to healthcare influenced by the social and economic conditions in which a person lives. Many of these differences are unjust and can be modifiable if given appropriate support or treatment. This article considers health inequalities in the UK, the challenges they pose and potential actions to combat them.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AchesonD. (1998) Independent inquiry into inequalities in health, London, UK: The Stationery Office.
2.
Bambra, C., Smith, K. E., Garthwaite, K., Joyce, K. E., & Hunter, D. J. (2010). A labour of sisyphus? Public policy and health inequalities research from the Black and Acheson Report to the Marmot Review. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. doi: 10.1136jech.2010.111195.
3.
BarnettK.MercerS. W.NorburyM.WattG.WykeS.GuthrieB. (2012) Epidemiology of multimorbidity and implications for health care, research, and medical education: A cross-sectional study. The Lancet380: 37–43. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60240-2.
4.
BlackD. (1980) Inequalities in health: Report of a research working group, London, UK: Department of Health and Social Security.
Office of National Statistics. (2013a). Statistical bulletin. Healthy life expectancy at birth and upper tier local authorities: England 2009–11. Retrieved from www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171778_327530.pdf.
15.
Office of National Statistics. (2013b). Statistical bulletin. Historic and projected mortality date from the period and cohort life tables, 2012-based, UK, 1981–2062. Retrieved from www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171778_345078.pdf.
The Health and Social Care Information Centre. (2013). Prevalence of underweight, healthy weight, overweight and obese children, with associated 95% confidence intervals, by school area 2010 index of multiple deprivation (IMD) decile, England, 2012/13. Retrieved from www.hscic.gov.uk/catalogue/PUB13115.
The Scottish Government. (2009). National forum on drug related deaths in Scotland: Annual report 2008-09. Annex: Estimates of ‘life expectancy’ for postcode sector ‘G40 2’ – the Calton area of Glasgow. Retrieved from www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/06/25153417/8.
