Health equity in England: 10 years in review
The Institute of Health Equity have published The Marmot Review: 10 Years On, which looks at health equity 10 years after the"Fair Society Healthy Lives" report (commonly referred to as the Marmot Review).
The Institute of Health Equity have published The Marmot Review 10 Years On which looks at health equity 10 years after the ‘Fair Society Healthy Lives’ report (commonly referred to as the Marmot Review). The initial review proposed that to improve health for everyone and reduce inequalities action needs to be taken on the social determinants – the circumstances in which we are born, grow, live, work and age (causes of the causes of ill health).
Key points from the Marmot 2020 review
- Health inequalities have widened overall over the last decade. The more deprived the area, the shorter the life expectancy. Since 2010 life expectancy in England has stalled for the first time since 1900. For women in the most deprived 10% of areas for whom life expectancy fell between 2010-12 and 2016-18.
- There are marked regional differences in life expectancy, particularly among people living in more deprived areas.
- Mortality rates are increasing for men and women aged 45-49 – perhaps related to ‘deaths of despair’ (suicide, drugs and alcohol abuse) as seen in the USA.
- Child poverty has increased (22% compared to Europe’s lowest of 10% in Norway, Iceland and The Netherlands); children’s and youth centres have closed; funding for education is down.
- There is a housing crisis and a rise in homelessness; people have insufficient money to lead a healthy life; and there are more ignored communities with poor conditions and little reason for hope.
The review sets out a clear agenda for the government to tackle health inequalities, building on the experience of other countries and local areas.
