A Critical Evaluation of British Government Policy in Addressing Health Inequalities Since 1997.
A critical evaluation of British government policy in addressing health inequalities since 1997.
Shortly after taking office in 1997 the Labour Government commissioned a study to examine inequalities in health of the UK nation. The resulting finding where published in The Acheson report (Independent Inquiry into Inequalities in Health, 1998), the report made a number of recommendations based upon evidence and set priority areas of health inequalities to be tackled. Unfortunately however, the Report failed to provide costing for these recommendations.
The report placed great weight behind recommendations such as; Health Impact Assessment, if a policy would have an impact on health it should be measured and judged in regard to its effect on health inequalities, if possible it should lean towards the lowest social class wherever possible to reduce inequalities. The highest priority should be those policies aimed at young children, expectant mothers and women of childbearing age, policies which closed the gap on income inequalities and households on state benefits. Further policy areas included, education, employment, housing and environment, mobility and nutrition (Acheson, 1998).
Achesons aim with his recommendations was to raise the level up for worst off, the report found health inequalities at that time where excessive and unwanted i.e. life expectancy was up but not healthy life expectancy and life expectancy was rising more for higher social classes, mortality rates were falling, premature mortality from major causes were higher in lower social classes, infant mortality was decreasing but the class divide was not, greater alcohol and drug dependence was found in lower social class men and average incomes had risen but had risen much more for top per cent of the population than for bottom per cent of the population (Lowdell et al, 1999).
The DoHs green paper ‘Our Healthier Nation’ (DoH, 1998c) aimed to improve the health of the nation and focused on
Shortly after taking office in 1997 the Labour Government commissioned a study to examine inequalities in health of the UK nation. The resulting finding where published in The Acheson report (Independent Inquiry into Inequalities in Health, 1998), the report made a number of recommendations based upon evidence and set priority areas of health inequalities to be tackled. Unfortunately however, the Report failed to provide costing for these recommendations.
The report placed great weight behind recommendations such as; Health Impact Assessment, if a policy would have an impact on health it should be measured and judged in regard to its effect on health inequalities, if possible it should lean towards the lowest social class wherever possible to reduce inequalities. The highest priority should be those policies aimed at young children, expectant mothers and women of childbearing age, policies which closed the gap on income inequalities and households on state benefits. Further policy areas included, education, employment, housing and environment, mobility and nutrition (Acheson, 1998).
Achesons aim with his recommendations was to raise the level up for worst off, the report found health inequalities at that time where excessive and unwanted i.e. life expectancy was up but not healthy life expectancy and life expectancy was rising more for higher social classes, mortality rates were falling, premature mortality from major causes were higher in lower social classes, infant mortality was decreasing but the class divide was not, greater alcohol and drug dependence was found in lower social class men and average incomes had risen but had risen much more for top per cent of the population than for bottom per cent of the population (Lowdell et al, 1999).
The DoHs green paper ‘Our Healthier Nation’ (DoH, 1998c) aimed to improve the health of the nation and focused on