The NHS alone can't solve health inequality

UNISON Scotland Convenor, Lilian Macer, reminds us that the NHS alone cannot solve health inequality. 

In an article in the Morning Star she outlines the challenge saying, “The good news is that Scots are living longer. What has not changed is that Scots from better-off areas are living much longer while those from poorer areas are only living a little longer, and not always in good health. The gap between rich and poor in life expectancy is getting wider. The same trend is apparent in other areas of health.”

Then the solution, “A progressive tax system, increases in wages for the majority of workers, access to decent affordable housing and leisure, a system of universal benefits and services are all needed.

Only then will the multi-agency approach, beloved by governments, of bringing together policy, planning, practitioners and integrated finances, focusing on health outcome measures, be able to make inroads on health performance statistics.”

The full article can be read here.