Story tools

Print this article

Email to a friend

Your feedback

A major report on tackling health inequalities for the next 10 years and beyond was welcomed today by the Secretary of State for Health, Andy Burnham.

Professor Sir Michael Marmot of University College London was asked by the Government to provide a clear set of short, medium, and long term objectives to inform how health inequalities can be dramatically reduced.

The report “Fair Society, Healthy Lives” is a thorough and comprehensive analysis of health inequalities in England today and it identifies key areas for future action. It will help set the direction beyond current targets, for the next 10 years and beyond.

Health Secretary Andy Burnham said:

“I would like to thank Sir Michael Marmot and his team of eminent experts, for this review. It builds on previous highly influential reports commissioned by the Government from Sir Douglas Black and Sir Donald Acheson and will help us put in place a strategy to continue to tackle health inequalities over the next decade.

“It is not right that where we live can dictate the state of our health. Everyone should have an equal chance at good health. I am passionate about getting to the heart of this issue and ensuring that young people can look forward to the same life expectancy regardless of where they are born. This report will help us make that historic achievement.

“Sir Michael has previously acknowledged our tremendous achievements – that the health of everyone has significantly improved over the last 10 years, and infant mortality is at an all-time low.

“The report shows us there is still much to do – so we are looking to all corners of the community to work together and address the wider causes of poor health and reduce health inequalities.  This report gives us a new and challenging agenda – based on the best available evidence - for the next 10 years and beyond.”

Key achievements in reducing health inequalities have meant that there are now more than two million fewer adults who smoke compared to twelve years ago; there are signs that childhood obesity rates are levelling off thanks to initiatives like the Healthy Child Programme; and the Government has provided additional funding for our most poorly served and disadvantaged areas with better access to primary care and GP-led health centres.

The Government welcomes the report and

    * supports the focus on tackling the root causes of ill health and inequality to build on what has already been achieved. This means following through on the current national health inequalities target on infant mortality and life expectancy which runs to the end of 2011

    * acknowledges the challenge posed by a social gradient - the lower a person’s social position, the worse his or her health. Tackling health inequalities requires a cross-government response and the involvement of all key stakeholders to reduce the gradient in health;

    * recognises the potential of initiatives that give extra attention to tackling disadvantage, especially in the early years.  The Government’s efforts in adopting this approach – through, for example, Family Nurse Partnerships – are acknowledged in the report;
    * emphasises that both economic growth and improved health and well being are crucial measures of the country’s success. Action cannot be ignored even in the current economic climate;

    * recognises that health inequalities sit alongside other social factors such as climate change and sustainable communities. Walking or cycling and the availability of green spaces will have benefits across all of society; and

    * stresses that any future strategy will need to take full account of the different aspects of health inequalities as well as social class.  These include gender, ethnicity, area, age and disability and strongly affect health and life chances.

Children's Minister Dawn Primarolo said:

"The Marmot Review recognises the key role played by children's centres in reducing health inequalities and I welcome the focus on the early years. It is Government's priority to support all new parents and give every child the best start in life. That's why we are establishing more children's centres with more effective outreach to the most disadvantaged families. We are on track to achieve our target of 3,500 children's centres by March 2010. By 2011 we will be investing over £1billion a year directly to support services in children's centres and we have committed to providing a named health visitor for each children's centre.

"Over the last decade we have made substantial progress in narrowing the gap between children from disadvantaged backgrounds and the rest - the average achievement for those pupils has risen more sharply than for others. And obesity levels amongst two to 10 year olds are at the lowest level since 2001.

"We are building on this with the successful Healthy Child Programme, providing more early intervention to all families from pregnancy to five years of age, with more guidance for parents so that they make healthy choices for their family. We are also making sure that the poorest families benefit from the free entitlement to early learning and childcare."