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In today’s world the discussion about inequality is everywhere, and for good reason. Racism, sexism, gender, economic, others; dialogue and discussion are an early stage in driving change. No discussion, no change. What about Health then?

When environmental, social, economic, or other conditions affect people’s health, we need to ask why this is? Health inequalities are simply differences in health between diverse groups that are both avoidable and unfair. Variations in access to healthcare for UK residents can be driven by many factors. For NHS Trusts, it is vital to investigate these disparate conditions for individuals and groups, to know how best to deliver healthcare services and organise infrastructure to make the situation more equitable.

What Are the Main Aspects Of Health Inequalities?

Health inequalities can refer to the state of people's health, their variable prospects, and the kind of care they receive. It is important to understand what these differences are:

a. Health Status or Life Expectancy

Life expectancy is one of the key demographic metrics for health inequality. The differential in life expectancy between England's most deprived and most affluent populations is almost ten years of living, and the gap is widening. Life expectancy differences are also classifiable by region, disability status, and other factors.

b. Access and Availability of Services

The lack of availability of healthcare, whether primary or secondary care, or social and intermediary services, can lead to poorer health outcomes. A good measure is the number of GPs in each area, which is geographically uneven between NHS Trusts. Differentials can be particularly evident, or perceived to be so, within ethnic, national, or religious groups, where linguistic and cultural differences play a role in access to healthcare.

c. Quality of Care

Care is not always of the same standard, and patient satisfaction serves as a measure of healthcare inequalities. Again, this is often geographically uneven. Though there are centres of excellence, there are also services where underfunding or inadequate resources significantly impact outcomes.

Some Causes Of Healthcare Inequalities Include:

1) Behavioural Risks

Individual behaviour is a major determinant of health. The risk of preventable conditions and premature death is increased significantly by smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical inactivity.

2) Quality of Housing

Poor quality accommodation can also have severely detrimental effects on people's physical and mental health. Overcrowding, lack of amenity space, and poor maintenance are associated with higher risks of cardiovascular, respiratory, and psychological illnesses.

3) Socio-Economic Conditions

Spanning many of these factors are the effects of socio-economic deprivation. The poorest areas are often ill-served by health infrastructure and tend to have poorer-quality housing stock. Lower incomes make it harder for people to lead healthy lifestyles and are also a major cause of stress.

4) Protected Characteristics

Issues of age, sex, race, sexual orientation, and disabilities are also cross-cutting concerns. These factors may influence social receptivity and have serious impacts on people's willingness to engage with healthcare provision, as well as detrimental mental health effects.

5) Vulnerable Groups

Migrants, travellers, the homeless, and sex workers are often physically at risk because of poor living conditions and social exclusion. This can affect both physical and mental health as well as make willingness to engage with healthcare services less likely.

6) Geography

Again, a cross-cutting concern, geographical location is a determinable factor in healthcare inequalities. For example, a differential of just under seven years exists for men's life expectancy between the Northeast and Southeast of England.

Find Out More

SilverRed can help NHS Trust managers make informed decisions when making strategic property investments to address health inequalities in their service areas. To find out more, please call 07500 704290 today.

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