Health Inequalities in the UK: Challenges and Government Strategies

This report addresses the significant concern of health inequalities in the United Kingdom, defining the issue and exploring its various causes, including socioeconomic factors, mental health disparities, and child health inequalities. It examines the government's role in addressing these inequalities through various policies and interventions, such as promoting health equality and creating healthy environments. The report highlights the relationship between health inequalities and government actions, emphasizing that effective measures can reduce disparities. It also discusses specific health inequalities in the UK today, such as those affecting people in deprived areas, and emphasizes the importance of community engagement and resource allocation. The report concludes that health inequalities require ongoing attention and strategic interventions from the government, non-profit organizations, and local authorities to ensure equitable access to healthcare and improve overall population health.

Health Inequalities are
a major concern in
the UK

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
Health inequalities and how are the government addressing these............................3
Relationship between health inequalities and the government....................................4
Main health inequalities in the UK today..........................................................................4
CONCLUSION...............................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Health inequalities can be defined as avoidable differences in the health of
people across the population of a country and between specific population groups.
There can be various causes that can lead to health inequalities within a country like
gender inequality, inequality based on the income level, age and socio-economic status.
The term health inequality can also be used to refer to the various differences in the
care that is received the people (Attanasio and Pistaferri, 2016). This can result in
different health outcomes of health among different people. This report is based the
topic “Health inequalities are a major concern in the United Kingdom”. It includes a brief
definition of the topic and how is the government addressing the health inequalities.
Besides this, there is also a discussion about the relationship between the two the
topics. Lastly, there is also use of supportive reference sources in order to support the
argument.
MAIN BODY
Health inequalities and how are the government addressing these
In simple words, health inequalities can be referred to the differences in the
health status of the people. There can be various causes reasons for health inequalities
between different population groups in a country. Health inequalities can involve
differences in the health status of people, like their life expectancy as well as prevalence
of health conditions (What are health inequalities?, 2020). In the United Kingdom,
inequalities in health are usually addressed by policy that across four factors which
include various socio-economic factors, geography, population groups that are socially
excluded and specific characteristics. The various fundamental causes that can lead to
health inequalities in a nation can include power, wealth and an unequal distribution of
income. While looking at health inequalities, the government of the United Kingdom
takes various factors into account such as jobs, worklessness, housing etc.
Children in the United Kingdom who are growing up in areas that are more
deprived, offer suffer various kinds of disadvantages throughout their lives (Bukodi and
et.al., 2015). This can include attaining effective education and a good employment
opportunity. The government of the nation has taken various measures in order to

address these health inequalities. Planning among the local authorities plays a major
role in ensuring proper health and wellbeing of the citizens. The government
encourages various efforts in order to create a healthy environment for different
communities within the country. Besides this, the government has also taken various
measures to promote health equality across the nation. This includes making basic
health care facilities available to all population groups. Apart from this, in order to
promote awareness about health equality, various communication measures are taken.
Health inequalities in the UK mainly arise due to the conditions in which individuals are
born, grow, live and work throughout their lives.
Relationship between health inequalities and the government
There is a significant relationship between health inequalities and the
government. This is because the government of a country takes various measures in
order to ensure that all the population groups within a country have access to basic
health and care facilities (Bywaters and et.al., 2020). Health inequalities are not
considered to be fair and therefore, can be reduced with the implementation of
appropriate policies that are formulated and implemented by the government. There are
certain inequalities that have been identified within the respective country. Inequalities
in the health outcomes of different child population groups have also been identified.
Children who are born in the most deprived areas of the United Kingdom are also
counted among the population groups that receive inequalities when it comes to
receiving effective health and care services. Therefore, it can be said that if the
government of the country takes proper measures to address these issues, inequalities
in health can be reduced and vice versa. Similarly, if the government will not take any
effective measures, the health of people across vulnerable population groups will get
impacted in a negative manner.
Main health inequalities in the UK today
There are various population groups in the United Kingdom that still do not have
any access to the basic healthcare facilities (Ek, 2015). This results in their overall
health getting impacted. Today, the main health inequalities in the UK are for the people
who are born and live in areas that are most deprived and lack access to even basic
facilities. Besides this, the other health inequalities in the country include mental health

inequalities and child health inequalities. Due to inequalities, people belonging to these
groups do not have a strong immunity system and are thus vulnerable to getting sick as
compared to other population groups. The different type of health inequalities in the
United Kingdom are explained below –
Mental Health Inequalities – The various mental health inequalities in the
country are related to ethnicity of women, employment status etc. Different studies have
been conducted which show that people who are not employed are more likely to suffer
from mental health disorders.
Child Health Inequalities – There are inequalities between children who belong
to vulnerable groups and children belonging to families with access to health care
facilities (Flenady and et.al., 2016. Due to these inequalities, the overall health of the
children living in the deprived areas is affected in a negative manner.
Inequalities in avoidable mortality – There are some deaths that are avoidable
with the help of preventive measures in a timely manner. But, due to inequalities
between people belonging to different populations, these deaths are not eliminated and
thus, there is an increase in the mortality rate.
Inequalities in long-term health conditions – Various types of long-term health
conditions are also one of the leading types of health inequalities in the respective
country. Long-term health conditions can impact the current health status of an
individual. People living in the United Kingdom experience unfair differences in terms of
receiving health care services. Although women in the respective country are treated
fairly, there are still some population groups wherein the treatment is not fair.
Therefore, it can be said that it is important for the government of the United
Kingdom to take appropriate measures in order to address these health inequalities.
This is because inequalities can lead to stress, insecurity and fear among people living
in deprived conditions (Layton-Henry and Rich, 2016). Also, in some cases, they can
have an impact on the society as well. Gender inequality in some population areas has
impacted the overall health of women within the country in a negative manner.
Health inequalities in the UK are a major concern and there are many reasons
that contribute to the same. Evidence states that people living in the vulnerable areas
are the ones who face the worse health inequalities in relation to health access. Besides

this, there are various approaches that the government of the country has taken in order
to reduce health inequalities. There are studies that have shown that the socio-
economic status of people is one of the greatest reasons that contribute to the health
inequalities. The government of UK has established local services wherein individuals
who do not have an access to basic health care facilities can come and avail the
services (Moran, 2015). Apart from this, there are also different schemes and plans that
the government has produced for reducing the inequalities related to health. There is an
increased focus on the overall health of the population so that everyone within the
nation receive the best services. There are various non-profit organizations that also
work along with the government in order to reduce the health inequalities. Also, the gap
in the life expectancy of people is growing and females are the ones who are the most
affected across different population groups.
The government identifies the priorities for local areas with the help of
specialized tools. Once this is done, the data within different areas as well as is
examined. The different factors are also examined as this helps in making effective
decisions and developing strategies. The local authorities within the United Kingdom
have the responsibility of meeting their duties under the Health and Social Care Act.
The various actions that the local bodies can consider in order to address health
inequalities can include engaging community members in the planning as well as
delivery of services and that to especially from communities that are the most
marginalised (Schneider, Hastings and LaBriola, 2018). There are various approaches
that are primarily centred towards the community can also be used. All of the decisions
that are made by the government and approaches that are implemented, are based on
the evidence that has been collected. The UK government has also partnered with
different organizations in order to reduce the health inequalities as much possible. For
example, the government of the country works in partnership with the NHS or National
Health Service, wherein the main focus is on working together and utilising the available
resources in an effective manner so as to address the situation effectively.
Nationally, the focus has to be on enforcing the measures which are most
possibly to be effective in decreasing fitness inequalities. This manner seeking to stop
or modify measures which have been proven to widen, or potentially widen, inequalities.

There is likewise a critical role for national organizations, inclusive of public and 1/3
sector companies, to guide nearby shipping through advocacy and evidence
constructing. Locally, public resources want to be allocated in step with want in order
that they do not make inequalities worse, and can contribute toward their reduction.
Providing well-known offerings with introduced extensive support for vulnerable
agencies (called proportionate universalism) is powerful at accomplishing all of those
that want them via making sure that there are fewer or no barriers in phrases of charge
and accessibility.
Individuals from one-of-a-kind backgrounds, social agencies, and nations revel in
distinct degrees of health (Stiglitz, 2015). This article defines and distinguishes between
unavoidable fitness inequalities and unjust and preventable health inequities. We
describe the size alongside which health inequalities are typically examined, including
throughout the worldwide populace, among nations or states, and within geographies,
by way of socially relevant groupings consisting of race/ethnicity, gender, training,
caste, profits, occupation, and greater. Different theories try to provide an explanation
for group-stage differences in fitness, consisting of fitness behaviour, environmental,
and choice motives. Concepts of relative versus absolute; dose–response versus
threshold; composition versus context; place versus area; the lifestyles direction angle
on health; causal pathways to fitness; conditional health consequences; and group-
stage as opposed to individual variations are crucial in knowledge fitness inequalities.
Well-being is profoundly impacted by many social and monetary determinants.
Clearly, get entry to primary desires along with meals, water, refuge, education, first rate
employment, safe operating conditions, and so on are vital to health (Stiglitz, 2016). But
even many better-order wishes which includes social inclusion, involvement in
governance issues together with coverage development (For example, human rights
and gender equity), the proper to critique unfair management, or take part within the
exercising of political strength are also critical. Indeed, well-being is so tightly related to
the huge ecology of social determinants, it has become increasingly evident that the
fitness of a populace is basically depending on fair get entry to social items and tactics
inside the society. Health equity and social justice are interlinked.

CONCLUSION
From the above report, it can be analysed that health inequalities in the United
Kingdom is a major concern. There are several population groups that have to suffer
from the such inequalities. The main population groups that have to suffer from this
include children living in deprived areas, individuals who are unemployed as well as
females in some of the groups. A lot of reasons can contribute to health inequalities in a
country like low socio-economic status, unemployment and so on. The government of
UK has adopted various approaches in order to address the situation and bring down
the levels of health inequalities. Therefore, it can be stated that it is important for the
communities to work together and ensure that there is an improvement on the overall
health status within the country and everyone in the country has access to basic health
services. Thus, it is important to address these issues in order to make sure that people
live a healthy life in the way they want.

REFERENCES
Books & Journals
Attanasio, O.P. and Pistaferri, L., 2016. Consumption inequality. Journal of Economic
Perspectives. 30(2). pp.3-28.
Bukodi, E. and et.al., 2015. The mobility problem in B ritain: new findings from the
analysis of birth cohort data. The British journal of sociology. 66(1). pp.93-117.
Bywaters, P. and et.al., 2020. Child welfare inequalities in the four nations of the UK.
Journal of Social Work. 20(2). pp.193-215.
Ek, S., 2015. Gender differences in health information behaviour: a Finnish population-
based survey. Health promotion international. 30(3). pp.736-745.
Flenady, V. and et.al., 2016. Stillbirths: recall to action in high-income countries. The
Lancet. 387(10019). pp.691-702.
Layton-Henry, Z. and Rich, P.B. Eds., 2016. Race, Government and Politics in Britain.
Springer.
Moran, M., 2015. Politics and Governance in the UK. Macmillan International Higher
Education.
Schneider, D., Hastings, O.P. and LaBriola, J., 2018. Income inequality and class
divides in parental investments. American Sociological Review. 83(3). pp.475-
507.
Stiglitz, J., 2015. The great divide. Penguin UK.
Stiglitz, J.E., 2016. Inequality and economic growth.
Online
What are health inequalities?. 2020. [Online]. Available
through:<https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/what-are-health-
inequalities#what>.