A model of enterprise integration and collaboration tools and communication infrastructure for inter-enterprise collaboration

Abstract

Our task has been to review the evidence on inequalities in health in England, including time trends, and, as a contribution to the development of the Government's strategy for health, to identify areas for policy development likely to reduce these inequalities. We carried out our task over the last 12 months, drawing on scientific and expert evidence, and peer review. Although average mortality has fallen over the past 50 years, unacceptable inequalities in health persist. For many measures of health, inequalities have either remained the same or have widened in recent decades. These inequalities affect the whole of society and they can be identified at all stages of the life course from pregnancy to old age. The weight of scientific evidence supports a socioeconomic explanation of health inequalities. This traces the roots of ill health to such determinants as income, education and employment as well as to the material environment and lifestyle. It follows that our recommendations have implications across a broad front and reach far beyond the remit of the Department of Health. Some relate to the whole Government while others relate to particular Departments. We have identified a range of areas for future policy development, judged on the scale of their potential impact on health inequalities, and the weight of evidence. These areas include: poverty, income, tax and benefits; education; employment; housing and environment; mobility, transport and pollution; and nutrition. Areas are also identified by the stages of the life course - mothers, children and families; young people and adults of working age; and older people - and by focusing on ethnic and gender inequalities. We identify possible steps within the National Health Service to reduce inequalities. In our view, these areas offer opportunities over time to improve the health of the less well off. There are three areas which we regard as crucial: •all policies likely to have an impact on health should be evaluated in terms of their impact on health inequalities; •a high priority should be given to the health of families with children; •further steps should be taken to reduce income inequalities and improve the living standards of poor households. These areas form the basis of our first three recommendations. We hope our report will provide a sound basis for policy development well into the next millennium.