Government outlines plan to tackle health inequalities

The Department of Health has outlined plans to deal with health inequalities and help the most deprived communities.

As part of the Progress and Next Steps document, the government has announced 34 million pounds of additional spending during 2008-9.

This spending includes 19 million pounds to help local communities reduce infant mortality and improve life expectancy, including the rolling out of the Communities for Health Programme to all areas.

A further 15 million pounds will be spent on those at most need, including those in disadvantaged communities, those with mental health issues and children.

Other initiatives include a revised Health Inequalities National Intervention Tool, a new National Support Team for Alcohol and the development of a Child Health Strategy as previously announced in the Children’s Plan.

Alan Johnson, secretary of state for health, said: “Health in the most disadvantaged parts of the country is improving rapidly, but the relative gap is growing and we will do more to reduce it.

“Inequalities in health go down to the root of where people are born and live and it’s time we set that right.”

He added that it is now the time to redouble government efforts to meet the targets set out for 2010 and to also plan for further into the future.

In July 2007, the Department of Health announced plans to resolve the inequality of access to GP services across England.