Understanding the failure of the public health system to reduce health inequalities in the UK
This research is undertaken in the wake of increasing health inequity in the UK population. From the Black Report in 1980 to the Marmot Review in 2010, inequity in health outcomes across the socioeconomic gradient have been well documented. The UK public health system regards health inequity as one of the major population health problems and has advocated for and invested in both National policy and local programmes to address this imbalance, but has made negligible progress. A fundamental issue this research therefore seeks to address is why has such little progress been made and should an alternative approach be developed to tackle health inequity.
This project will incorporate three research questions:
- When addressing the health gradient, is it possible to decouple societal from economic factors?
- If it is possible, should social interventions be prioritised to reduce health inequity?
- What framework is needed for health inequities to be addressed effectively in the sphere of social intervention?