In a recent joint survey by the University of Sheffield and Bristol University, researchers have found that the health gap in Britain is greater than ever before amid the rich and poor. The study revealed that even though a lot of successful measures have been taken to increase the life expectancy, not much has been done to reduce the increased rates of premature death among the poor in comparison with the well-to-do.
According to the findings in the survey, in 1990-91 the number of cases of premature deaths in the poor was approximately 1.6 times than among the wealthy individuals. But shockingly, this gap was increased to twice the number of deaths between the two economic classes albeit the various steps taken by the administration to improve the health sector. For every 100 premature deaths in the affluent community, 200 pass away among the poorest.
The researchers knew that such a gap existed even before they started the survey and were also aware that the gap was increasing with time. But still, they hoped to see things turning around since the Labour party, the ruling ones, believed in reducing wealth inequalities.
The research has been made public in the British Medical Journal and uses the records from the Office for National Statistics and the General Register Office for Scotland to determine the death rates. The researches took into consideration the number of individuals who died before attaining 75 years of age from the year 1990 to 2007 and also the under-65 deaths beginning 1921.
The health inequalities have considerably increased in the last 90 years. In fact, the present situation is worse than what it used to be following the economic crash in 1929 and the depression that followed in the 1930s. The research team is of the opinion that the situation could only worsen if sufficient steps are not taken.
Source:
British Medical Journal
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-10730095
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by on 24. Jul, 2010 in Health News
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