Health Inequalities in Scotland/Uk
Health Inequalities
The causes for health inequalities are very complex and seemingly conflicting. Recent studies show that death rates in Glasgow, Manchester and Liverpool in 2003 and 2007 were much higher than anywhere else in the UK. This is because these cities all have the same crucial issue – poverty and it is estimated that 25% of their populations are classed as ‘deprived’. There are many crucial factors to health inequalities, including poverty in which the CASSI report linked together. Perhaps one of the main issues is lifestyle choices.
The North-South divide clearly shows that Scotland has major health issues. The investigation of the 3 cities (Glasgow, Manchester and Liverpool) shows that lifestyle is an important issue. It shows that Scottish people are more likely to die at a younger age, have strokes and get heart disease if they live in deprived areas, compared to their English equivalents – which still have bad health. The report illustrates that the death rate is 15% higher in Glasgow than in the other two cities, hence the phrase “The Glasgow Effect”. Six out of seven of the worst areas in Scotland are in Glasgow, where those in Edinburgh are expected to live on average four years longer. The average life expectancy for a man in Scotland is 75.3 and 79.9 for a female, yet in England it is 78 for a male and 82.1 for a female – showing that the North South Divide is important when looking at health inequalities.
Smoking and obesity are both issues linked with social class and poverty. In Social Class 1, 13% of women are obese, but it is Social Class 2 where it increases to 25%. There are many illnesses related to obesity including heart disease. 66% of people in Scotland are classed as overweight, and 4 people die every week due to obesity. The struggling NHS forks out £125 million pounds per year to treat obese people. Messages from the government have helped to reduce smoking by 75% in Social Class 1 but Social Class 2 only by
The causes for health inequalities are very complex and seemingly conflicting. Recent studies show that death rates in Glasgow, Manchester and Liverpool in 2003 and 2007 were much higher than anywhere else in the UK. This is because these cities all have the same crucial issue – poverty and it is estimated that 25% of their populations are classed as ‘deprived’. There are many crucial factors to health inequalities, including poverty in which the CASSI report linked together. Perhaps one of the main issues is lifestyle choices.
The North-South divide clearly shows that Scotland has major health issues. The investigation of the 3 cities (Glasgow, Manchester and Liverpool) shows that lifestyle is an important issue. It shows that Scottish people are more likely to die at a younger age, have strokes and get heart disease if they live in deprived areas, compared to their English equivalents – which still have bad health. The report illustrates that the death rate is 15% higher in Glasgow than in the other two cities, hence the phrase “The Glasgow Effect”. Six out of seven of the worst areas in Scotland are in Glasgow, where those in Edinburgh are expected to live on average four years longer. The average life expectancy for a man in Scotland is 75.3 and 79.9 for a female, yet in England it is 78 for a male and 82.1 for a female – showing that the North South Divide is important when looking at health inequalities.
Smoking and obesity are both issues linked with social class and poverty. In Social Class 1, 13% of women are obese, but it is Social Class 2 where it increases to 25%. There are many illnesses related to obesity including heart disease. 66% of people in Scotland are classed as overweight, and 4 people die every week due to obesity. The struggling NHS forks out £125 million pounds per year to treat obese people. Messages from the government have helped to reduce smoking by 75% in Social Class 1 but Social Class 2 only by