BMA: Doctors can help to address health inequalities

The British Medical Association (BMA) has highlighted the important role doctors can play in helping to address health inequalities in local communities.

A report that is being discussed at the World Health Organization Conference on Social Determinants of Health has suggested that doctors can act as community leaders to solve problems caused by social determinants affecting health and wellbeing.

These factors include issues such as gender and age, as well as where patients are born, the areas they live in or where they work.

Such variables can, for example, influence how likely someone is to take up smoking or be able to successfully quit.

As such, the BMA believes doctors can work to refer patients to appropriate welfare and social support services to help address underlying causes of ill health.

Dr Vivienne Nathanson, director of professional activities at the BMA, said the organisation "will press the four UK governments to assess the health impact of all policies and interventions with a special emphasis on the social determinants of health".

Earlier this month, the BMA expressed persisting concerns over the UK's Health and Social Care Bill, after proposals to block the NHS reforms were voted against by the House of Lords.