Health inequalities is one of the starkest health challenges facing Britain today and the NHS Confederation is clear that the focus must be on the most excluded.
On 9 June 2008, health secretary Alan Johnson set out the Government's commitment to tackling health inequalities and helping the most deprived communities. Responding, NHS Confederation chairman, Bryan Stoten, said that, while there have been clear improvements to the overall health of the population, the inequality gap continues to widen. He said: 'Tackling inequality will require joint working of the NHS with government departments, local government and other agencies over the next generation. We are pleased that the Government recognises the importance of joint action.'
The NHS Confederation is undertaking a major programme of work on health inequalities, starting from the premise that, while reducing the gap in health inequalities is a huge multi-agency issue, there is a lot that the health sector can do to improve the current situation.
In January 2008 we represented members in our evidence to the Health Select Committee inquiry on health inequalities. While we argued that the health service can do more about inequalities in access, we made clear that less can be done by the NHS alone to improve inequalities in outcomes from healthcare. We told the inquiry that all parts of the health and social care system have a role to play in assessing and delivering services designed to reduce health inequalities. This includes primary care and general practice, NHS commissioners and the providers of NHS services and specialist public health practitioners at PCT and regional level. Without strong local, regional and national partnerships, change cannot be brought about.
Following our work at the 2007 party political conferences and publication of In sickness and in health, our report that looked at some of the issues the health service should address to reduce the gap, in February 2008 we convened a group of interested organisations to discuss a potential coalition campaign on health inequalities. There was real enthusiasm and a steering group is being established to take the work forward.
Last reviewed 10 Jun 2008