22 Oct 2007
Commenting on the new statistics, Dr Gill Morgan chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents 95% of NHS organisations, said:
"We are pleased with the increases in life expectancy and the reduction in infant mortality, highlighted in the report. However, the statistics show that despite these significant improvements, geographical health inequalities are often present.
"There are three simple ways the health service can help to tackle the inequalities gap.
First, we need improved access to health services. It is at the early stages of disease that people from poorer backgrounds are failing to access services. We must change the incentives in the NHS to serve them better. An initial step would be to change the formula for paying GPs to ensure practices in deprived areas don't lose out.
"Second, we must use the NHS as a corporate citizen. 1.3 million people work for the NHS - we must use that power to make change happen locally.
"Third, we need better data on the millions of people who are not accessing the service they need at the time they need it. Investing in finding those people is a crucial part of tackling inequality."
ENDS
1. The NHS Confederation represents more than 95% of the organisations that make up the NHS. Its members include the majority of NHS acute trusts, ambulance trusts, foundation trusts, mental health trusts, primary care trusts, special health authorities and strategic health authorities in England; trusts and local health boards in Wales; and health and social service trusts and boards in Northern Ireland.
2. The NHS Confederation has published 'In sickness and in health', which sets out the role the NHS can play in reducing inequalities. Please see this link for full details of the report: In sickness and in health.
Contact Ruby Casey-Knight 020 7074 3306, Niall Smith 020 7074 3304 or 077 6777 0309 or Ruth Kennedy 020 7074 3312 or 078 8447 3086. For out of hours media enquiries, please call the Duty Press Officer on 07880 500726.
Last reviewed 23 Oct 2007