A new UCL
(University College London) Institute that aims to reduce health
inequalities through action on the social determinants was
launched today by the Health Secretary Andrew Lansley and
Professor Sir Michael Marmot.
Speaking at the international Social Determinants of Health
conference, the Health Secretary will set out the Government’s
commitment to tackle health inequalities and to support the UCL
Institute of Health Equity, which will be led by Sir Michael.
The Institute will receive £1 million funding from the Department
of Health over the next three years to take forward action that
will reduce health inequalities in England. The Institute will
also be supported by UCL, the BMA and independently commissioned projects.
The UCL Institute for Health Equity will be new, authoritative
and independent. It will collect the latest evidence, provide
expert advice and share best practice both locally and
internationally. It will build on previous world-renowned research
and reviews led by Professor Marmot such as The Whitehall Study
and the Fair Society, Healthy Lives review, which underpinned the
recent Public Health White Paper.
The Institute has already started to help a number of local
organisations take action on the social determinants of health to
reduce health inequalities. It will ensure England remains at the
forefront of international action and provide vital guidance and
support to local organisations during the transition to Public
Health England and the new NHS.
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said:
“A stark picture has
emerged in this country over the past 20 years of a growing divide
in the health outcomes between rich and poor. For example, men
living in Blackpool can expect to live on average 11.5 years less
than men living in Kensington and Chelsea.
“The Public Health
White Paper already incorporates a social determinants approach as
we are creating a new public health system that will improve
people’s health and wellbeing and reduce the health inequalities
that exist across the country.
“The new Institute of Health
Equity will provide invaluable advice and support for local
organisations and health professionals during the transition to
this fairer system.
“Health inequalities cannot be transformed
overnight but the work of Sir Michael Marmot and his team should
help turn evidence into action and help improve the health of
their local communities.”
Professor Sir Michael Marmot, Director of the UCL Institute of
Health Equity said:
“Closing the Gap in a Generation’ and Fair
Society, Healthy Lives set out a vision to empower people to have
control over their lives. I am delighted to see work to tackle
health inequalities integrated into the Government’s plans for
public health.
“The UCL Institute of Health Equity has a global remit to ensure
population health is improved and health inequities are reduced
within and between countries, through action on the social
determinants of health. To enable individuals to be in control of
their own lives action is needed on the social circumstances in
which we are born, grow, live, work and age.”
Professor Malcolm Grant, Provost of UCL said:
“Health
inequalities pose serious challenges locally, nationally and
internationally and defy easy solutions. I therefore welcome with
great enthusiasm the UCL Institute of Health Equity, which aims to
assist in finding solutions and assessing the evidence to inform policies.
“The Institute builds on UCL’s great strengths in global health
and Michael Marmot’s outstanding leadership in the field of
promoting a social determinants approach to reducing health inequity.
“Although the NHS remains a model for the rest of the world,
inequities persist in England in terms of prevention, presentation
and access. We will look to the Institute to assist in tackling
this inequity.”
Dr Hamish Meldrum, BMA Chairman of Council said:
“Sir Michael
Marmot’s term as President of the BMA last year has resulted in a
commitment to embed a social determinants approach in dealing with
all health problems. We are now working with doctors to equip them
with the very best evidence, provided by the Institute, on what
they can do to reduce health inequalities.
“The BMA’s recent report Social Determinants of Health: What Can
Doctors Do? emphasises while not every doctor has the opportunity
to change the life course of individual patients, they can make a
difference in other ways. The report highlights examples of good
practice where health professionals can refer patients to
colleagues from welfare, employment, housing and debt advice
services so that the underlying causes of their problems can be addressed.”
Notes to editors
1. For further media enquiries or case studies please call the
Department of Health Newsdesk on 020 7210 5221.
2. The Health Secretary Andrew Lansley is Chair of the Cabinet’s
Sub-Committee on Public Health.
3. Sir Marmot chaired the WHO Commission on Social Determinants
of Health (published 2008) and is currently chairing a WHO
commissioned Review on the Social Determinants of Health and the
Health Divide in the European Region.
4. Due to the Institute’s networking and initial work, a number
of local organisations have taken action on the social
determinants of health to address health inequalities. Case
studies are available for Blackburn, Gateshead, Nottingham and
Well London. For more information about these case studies please
contact Felicity Porritt, Head of Communications for the UCL
Institute of Health Equity, on felicity.porritt@gmail.com
or 07739419219.
5. More information on the Institute for Health Equity can be
found on its website at www.instituteofhealthequity.org
6. Data on life expectancy is available from the Office of
National Statistics. The latest data for 2008-10 shows marked
differences in life expectancy at birth between local authority
areas in England.
Contacts:
Department of Health
Phone: 020 7210 5221
NDS.DH@coi.gsi.gov.uk