This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/health/8508204.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Poorest 'die seven years earlier' | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| People in England's poorest areas live an average of seven years less than those in the richest ones, says a major report on health inequalities. | People in England's poorest areas live an average of seven years less than those in the richest ones, says a major report on health inequalities. |
| Epidemiologist Sir Michael Marmot, says the NHS must spend much more on preventing illness. | Epidemiologist Sir Michael Marmot, says the NHS must spend much more on preventing illness. |
| And he calls for an increase in the minimum wage to allow everyone to have a healthy lifestyle. | And he calls for an increase in the minimum wage to allow everyone to have a healthy lifestyle. |
| Health Secretary Andy Burnham has welcomed the government-commissioned report and said more work was needed. | |
| The Marmot Review shows that although life expectancy has risen in poor and rich areas, inequalities persist. | The Marmot Review shows that although life expectancy has risen in poor and rich areas, inequalities persist. |
| Poorest neighbourhoods | Poorest neighbourhoods |
| People in the poorest neighbourhoods will also spend a greater proportion of those shorter lives unwell. | People in the poorest neighbourhoods will also spend a greater proportion of those shorter lives unwell. |
| There must be a real political commitment at all levels, because a fairer society will benefit all Professor David Hunter, Durham University | There must be a real political commitment at all levels, because a fairer society will benefit all Professor David Hunter, Durham University |
| The report estimates up to 202,000 early deaths could be avoided, if everyone in the population enjoyed the same health as university graduates. | The report estimates up to 202,000 early deaths could be avoided, if everyone in the population enjoyed the same health as university graduates. |
| Doing nothing to tackle these inequalities would cost the economy more, according to the review, which says inequality in illness accounts for £33bn of lost productivity every year. | Doing nothing to tackle these inequalities would cost the economy more, according to the review, which says inequality in illness accounts for £33bn of lost productivity every year. |
| The report says "action is essential" because more than three-quarters of the population experience significant illness by the age of 68 - which will by 2046 be the pensionable age for men and women in England. | The report says "action is essential" because more than three-quarters of the population experience significant illness by the age of 68 - which will by 2046 be the pensionable age for men and women in England. |
| And there's a call for NHS spending on preventing illness to be much higher than the current 4%, with more money going to initiatives such as providing statins and helping people to stop smoking. | And there's a call for NHS spending on preventing illness to be much higher than the current 4%, with more money going to initiatives such as providing statins and helping people to stop smoking. |
| 'Best start' | 'Best start' |
| The authors feel their most important recommendation is giving every child the best start in life. | The authors feel their most important recommendation is giving every child the best start in life. |
| Women from less well-off families are less likely to see cuddling and talking to a child as important | Women from less well-off families are less likely to see cuddling and talking to a child as important |
| Sir Michael Marmot, from University College London, said: "Every child needs to be nurtured at an early stage. | Sir Michael Marmot, from University College London, said: "Every child needs to be nurtured at an early stage. |
| "In one study, mothers were asked whether it was important to cuddle and talk to a child. | "In one study, mothers were asked whether it was important to cuddle and talk to a child. |
| "I would have thought every mother would have said yes to that - but not all of them did. | "I would have thought every mother would have said yes to that - but not all of them did. |
| "That made my hair stand on end. | "That made my hair stand on end. |
| "And it follows the social gradient - women from less well-off families are less likely to see this as important. | "And it follows the social gradient - women from less well-off families are less likely to see this as important. |
| "But then by the age of three, these children had more behavioural problems and worse cognitive skills. | "But then by the age of three, these children had more behavioural problems and worse cognitive skills. |
| "Then they have less readiness to learn, and the problems continue." | "Then they have less readiness to learn, and the problems continue." |
| Minimum wage | Minimum wage |
| The review also says the current minimum wage of £5.80 an hour is below the level needed for a healthy life. | The review also says the current minimum wage of £5.80 an hour is below the level needed for a healthy life. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| It cites the higher pay levels recommended by the London Living Wage Unit - set up by then mayor Ken Livingstone and continued by Boris Johnson. | It cites the higher pay levels recommended by the London Living Wage Unit - set up by then mayor Ken Livingstone and continued by Boris Johnson. |
| This calculated that Londoners need an hourly wage 16% higher than the national minimum rate to lift them above poverty. | This calculated that Londoners need an hourly wage 16% higher than the national minimum rate to lift them above poverty. |
| The report says a minimum income should allow people to consume a healthy diet, take exercise and have technology such as broadband, that enables them to maintain social networks. | The report says a minimum income should allow people to consume a healthy diet, take exercise and have technology such as broadband, that enables them to maintain social networks. |
| Sir Michael says he has been given a sympathetic hearing when presenting his findings to politicians from all main parties. | Sir Michael says he has been given a sympathetic hearing when presenting his findings to politicians from all main parties. |
| The health secretary, Andy Burnham, said: "It's not right that where we live can dictate the state of our health. | The health secretary, Andy Burnham, said: "It's not right that where we live can dictate the state of our health. |
| "The report shows us there is still much to do - so we are looking to all corners of the community to work together." | "The report shows us there is still much to do - so we are looking to all corners of the community to work together." |
| In a commentary in Thursday's British Medical Journal, Professor David Hunter, an expert in health management at Durham University, said: "There are few votes in health inequalities. | In a commentary in Thursday's British Medical Journal, Professor David Hunter, an expert in health management at Durham University, said: "There are few votes in health inequalities. |
| "As politicians of all hues become increasingly preoccupied with securing electoral advantage, it is questionable whether this important report will receive the careful and considered attention it deserves. | "As politicians of all hues become increasingly preoccupied with securing electoral advantage, it is questionable whether this important report will receive the careful and considered attention it deserves. |
| "There must be a real political commitment at all levels, because a fairer society will benefit all." | "There must be a real political commitment at all levels, because a fairer society will benefit all." |
| Professor Mike Kelly, of the National Institute for health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) said: "Public health interventions are extremely good value when compared with the costs of clinical interventions. | Professor Mike Kelly, of the National Institute for health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) said: "Public health interventions are extremely good value when compared with the costs of clinical interventions. |
| "We need to shift the emphasis away from medical interventions that treat existing illnesses to interventions to prevent those illnesses developing in the first place, but it needs political support and system change to make this happen. | "We need to shift the emphasis away from medical interventions that treat existing illnesses to interventions to prevent those illnesses developing in the first place, but it needs political support and system change to make this happen. |
| Dr Peter Carter, chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing, said the nation should not tolerate the difference in life expectancy seen in the report. | Dr Peter Carter, chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing, said the nation should not tolerate the difference in life expectancy seen in the report. |
| He said: "To avoid missing the window of opportunity in a child's early years, midwifery, health visiting, school and community nursing are vital and need significant and consistent investment." | He said: "To avoid missing the window of opportunity in a child's early years, midwifery, health visiting, school and community nursing are vital and need significant and consistent investment." |
| Professor Alan Maryon-Davis, president of the UK Faculty of Public Health, said: "This report is not just about fairness and opportunity - essential though these things are. | Professor Alan Maryon-Davis, president of the UK Faculty of Public Health, said: "This report is not just about fairness and opportunity - essential though these things are. |
| "It is also about hard-nosed investment in preventive strategies that really pay off. It is about seeing people's health and wellbeing as real assets, especially in these tough economic times." | "It is also about hard-nosed investment in preventive strategies that really pay off. It is about seeing people's health and wellbeing as real assets, especially in these tough economic times." |