Analysis of Socioeconomic Factors and Healthcare Access in the UK

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Empowering Service Users in the UK to promote good health
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Table of Contents
Introduction....................................................................................................................................3
Task 1.............................................................................................................................................4
(Refer to Brochure).......................................................................................................................4
Task 2...........................................................................................................................................12
Task 3...........................................................................................................................................16
Task 4...........................................................................................................................................20
(Refer Poster Presentation).......................................................................................................20
Conclusion....................................................................................................................................22
References...................................................................................................................................23
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Introduction
Health care is a very complex topic as the policies related to healthcare are very difficult to
implement. A good quality healthcare needs to include proper communication and access of
vulnerable people, who needs the care and treatment. The facilities also must be cost effective
so that the service users of every part of the society can access the treatments. In the present
study, the approaches that can help the service users to empower their position in the health
care sector are discussed in details. Also various models and techniques are highlighted so that
the quality of healthcare is maintained and the service users can attain good health.
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Task 1
(Refer to Brochure)
“Explain the effects of socio-economic influences on health”
The social and economical scenarios that may affect the health of the people can be said as
“social determinants of health”. These social determinants include several factors that may
impact on the health of individuals like Rajesh and Shubha. The most vital factors that influence
the health and social care are work and income. The determinants that may help to decide the
living conditions of the people are as follows:
Income status: High income and status have a deep impact on better health. The more the
financial gap between people, the greater the difference of health care access of people. The
financial difficulties of Rajesh and Shubha as their inability to secure employment has led them
to face many problems to access the proper health care (Woodall et al., 2018).
 Education: Lower education level also has an influence on health of vulnerable people as it
may affect their confidence level. For instance, Rajesh has lost his confidence as he had
little or no education before coming to the UK and hence they are unable to communicate in
English properly. This may influence the process of proper health care as the
communication between Rajesh and service users are suffers from linguistic barriers.
 Employment and working conditions: People with employment can access proper
healthcare as they are financial stable. These people have control on the working conditions
as they are healthier. Rajesh and Shubha have not been able to gain employment which is a
prime reason that has caused them financial problems and health issues. Also the family
has also has to suffer from the recent cuts by the government.
 Genetics: Inheritance can determine the health issues that may arise in future. For
instance, Rajesh and Shubha belong from culture where being obese is considered as
symbol of wealth and prosperity. This may affect their health as being obese may lead to
many health problems.
 Individual’s behaviour and food habit: The type of food consumed by the individuals’ and
lifestyle can determine their health. Majority of families like that of Rajesh and Shubha are
dependent on fast food and fizzy drinks. Such families are not able to cook in their home
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due to limited monetary benefits. Due to this reason, the children and parents are suffering
from obesity and their body mass index is affected. The children of the family are also
spending more time watching television and perform indoor activities due to the unsafe
neighbourhood this may lead them to various health related issues.
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Brochure for Q1
The social and economical scenarios
that may affect the health of the
people can be said as “social
determinants of health”. These social
determinants include several factors
that may impact on the health of
individuals like Rajesh and Shubha.
The financial difficulties of Rajesh
and Shubha as their inability to secure
employment has led them to face
many problems to access the proper
health care.
Rajesh and Shubha have not been
able to gain employment which is a
prime reason that has caused them
financial problems and health issues
Rajesh and Shubha belong from
culture where being obese is
considered as symbol of wealth and
prosperity.
The type of food consumed by the
individuals’ and lifestyle can
determine their health. Majority of
families like that of Rajesh and
Shubha are dependent on fast food
and fizzy drinks. Such families are
not able to cook in their home due to
limited monetary benefits. Due to this
reason, the children and parents are
suffering from obesity and their body
mass index is affected. The children
of the family are also spending more
time watching television and perform
indoor activities due to the unsafe
neighbourhood this may lead them to
various health related issues.

“Assess the relevance of government sources in reporting on inequalities in health”
The delegation of health can be determined by various factors like individuals, communities and
the national factors. The inequalities in health and access of healthcare are prevalent in UK and
other parts of the world. Proper healthcare can indicate the quality of service that the health
care system of UK is providing to the people.
The inequalities in the context of social class persist in the UK at every age and for almost all
the main diseases that the citizens of the country suffer from. The analysis in regards of
outcomes of health in UK for the “Global Burden Study” states that the life expectancy of the
women living in the most deprived areas of the country is shorter than 6.9 years if compared to
women living in the least deprived regions. This has been an improvement as the difference
was 7.2 years in the last two decades. There have been various studies regarding the health
areas of UK. The landmark studies are:
The Black Report
The Black Report was published in 1980 that described the inequalities in health of the people
regarding the social class and the overall mortality of the people. The report has discussed four
possible mechanisms that can help to understand the widening of socio-economic inequalities in
health:
Artefact: The information of the population can be gathered from decennial census while the
information regarding the death may be gained from death certificates. A specific person can be
described in various ways in various sources of data that may lead to bias result. For instance
Rajesh and Shubha are provided with many facilities and supports by government as they are
immigrants in UK and the information collected about them as helped them to live in council
house that is paid by local council (McCaffrey, 2018).
 Social Selection: Health helps to determine the social position of people. Rajesh and
Shubha can be suffering from obesity due to which they are not able to find employment in
UK.
 Behaviour: Individuals that belong to lower part of the society has to suffer from more
health damaging behaviours like family of Rajesh and Subha prefer fast food and fizzy
drinks.
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 Material Circumstance: The families struggling for employment has limited source of
material and may cause to poverty. Poverty is the main reason that causes inequalities in
health and health care.
The Acheson Report
The Acheson Report which was published in the year 1988 suggests that the mortality of UK
has depreciated in the last few decades but that in some cases the inequalities has widened.
The report recommends:
 Evaluating the policies that may affect the health due to inequalities
 Prioritizing the health of families that have children
 The government is responsible for reduction of inequalities in the context of the income
 Improving the standard of living of the people.
Children of Rajesh and Shubha are most likely stay at home and watch television rather than
going out due to the danger that prevails in the neighbourhood in which they live. Government
needs to support such vulnerable families in order to improve their standard of living (Macaulay
et al., 2018).
Independent Enquiry
This review focuses on three vital aspects:
 The policies that have the most impact on the health of the people needs to be evaluated so
that inequalities in health can be eliminated
 Helping the vulnerable families like Rajesh and Shubha to improve their financial conditions.
 Providing information about the population that can help the government to understand the
requirement of people in the regards of healthcare.
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Brochure for Q2
The delegation of health can be determined by
various factors like individuals, communities
and the national factors. The inequalities in
health and access of healthcare are prevalent
in UK and other parts of the world.
The analysis in regards of outcomes of health
in UK for the “Global Burden Study” states
that the life expectancy of the women living in
the most deprived areas of the country is
shorter than 6.9 years if compared to women
living in the least deprived regions. This has
been an improvement as the difference was
7.2 years in the last two decades
The Black Report
The Black Report was published in 1980 that
described the inequalities in health of the
people regarding the social class and the
overall mortality of the people. The report
has discussed four possible mechanisms that
can help to understand the widening of
socio-economic inequalities in health:
For instance Rajesh and Shubha are
provided with many facilities and supports
by government as they are immigrants in UK
and the information collected about them as
helped them to live in council house that is
paid by local council.
Health helps to determine the social position
of people. Rajesh and Shubha can be
suffering from obesity due to which they are
not able to find employment in UK.
Behaviour: Individuals that belong to lower
part of the society has to suffer from more
health damaging behaviours like family of
Rajesh and Subha prefer fast food and fizzy
drinks.
Material Circumstance: The families
struggling for employment has limited source
of material and may cause to poverty. Poverty
is the main reason that causes inequalities in
health and health care.
The Acheson Report
The Acheson Report which was published in
the year 1988 suggests that the mortality of
UK has depreciated in the last few decades
but that in some cases the inequalities has
widened.
Independent Enquiry
Providing information about the population
that can help the government to understand
the requirement of people in the regards of
healthcare

“Discuss reason for barriers to accessing healthcare”
A report from “Doctors of the World” part of the “International Medicins du Monde” network has
provided information regarding the barriers that people who are vulnerable for health care
experience. In the report, it has been found out that 39% of the people were refused by general
practitioner in order to register them for healthcare. There are several other barriers that may
affect Rajesh and Shubha are as follows:
 Immigrants like Rajesh and Shubha may have no knowledge about the services that are
available in the healthcare organisations. They are not familiar with the services that as it
may differ from their native countries.
 Sometimes language and cultural barriers can also be a huge concern for people. As,
Rajesh and Shubha are Hindus their beliefs are different from the people of UK. This may
lead to misunderstanding as both of them do not have proper knowledge in English.
The healthcare providers need to provide the people with proper information without using much
of the terminologies. This may rise to ambiguity that may lead to prevention of accessing
healthcare. For example Rajesh and Shubha may not understand the term general practitioner
instead of that using the word doctor may help those (Luchenski et al., 2018).
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
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Brochure for Q3
A report from “Doctors of the World”
part of the “International Medicins du
Monde” network has provided
information regarding the barriers that
people who are vulnerable for health
care experience. In the report, it has
been found out that 39% of the people
were refused by general practitioner in
order to register them for healthcare.
There are several other barriers that
may affect Rajesh and Shubha are as
follows:
Immigrants like Rajesh and Shubha
may have no knowledge about the
services that are available in the
healthcare organisations. They are
not familiar with the services that as
it may differ from their native
countries.
Sometimes language and cultural
barriers can also be a huge concern
for people. As, Rajesh and Shubha
are Hindus their beliefs are different
from the people of UK. This may
lead to misunderstanding as both of
them do not have proper knowledge
in English.
 The healthcare providers need to
provide the people with proper
information without using much
of the terminologies. This may
rise to ambiguity that may lead to
prevention of accessing
healthcare. For example Rajesh
and Shubha may not understand
the term general practitioner
instead of that using the word
doctor may help them.

Task 2
Introduction
Quality in healthcare can be achieved by implementing various strategies and models that can
help in health promotion. Various roles of healthcare professionals can help them to meet the
targets of government in the context of health promotion.
“Analyse the links between government strategies and models of health promotion”
There are several models or strategies that can be implemented by service providers in UK in
order to maintain quality of healthcare for vulnerable people. The strategies are as follows:
Beattie’s Model: This model is an analytical model that helps to understand that promotion of
health is largely influenced by social and cultural practices of the country. The model helps to
determine the strategies and roles related to health promotion.
The model consists of four quadrants that are aligned on two axes. The four quadrants are the
representation of the ways which can help in health promotion.
Fig 1- Health Belief Model
(Source-Kortteisto et al., 2018)
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