Inequalities in Health

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This aim of this essay is to discuss the concept of health inequalities. The content will include what health inequalities are, why health inequalities happen and what is being put forward by the government to try and change inequalities in health. Health inequalities is a phrase used to describe individuals who do not access available health services or programs, causing them to have a range of different illnesses and a shorter life expectancy. This could be because of gender, race, religion or most importantly social class. Health was described by the world health organisation (WHO) as, a state of complete physical, mental and social well being (WHO, 1948). This statement hasn’t changed since the WHO was set up in 1948. The department of health believes everyone should have access to good healthcare services and is looking at ways to tackle why some parts of the United Kingdom (UK) have the same life expectancy as the national average of the 1950s (Great Britain, Department of health, 2003). It can be said that the wealthier and more affluent people are, the better their health and longer their life expectancy. It seems the further down the hierarchy of education and wealth, the poorer the individuals health and life expectancy are. Fifty years ago it is probable inequalities occurred because the more affluent could afford to have access to healthcare services. Even though in 2010 everyone has access to good healthcare services, we are still seeing these same inequalities highlighted in the 1980s Black report. When the Black report was published, it highlighted the major difference in health care accessibility, it stated that the poorer health experiences of the lower occupational groups applied to all stages of life, inequalities where increasing rather than decreasing. They were a considerable amount of factors relating to why people had poorer health

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