Dear all

I don't know if anyone has looked at the BBC comments website 'have your 
say' which is related to the news article on the UK Governments Health 
Inequalities report, released today. The comments that the BBC have 
published are interesting if they truly reflect the attitudes of 
clinicians (assuming those with the prefix Dr are clinicians that is). 
In comparision lay responses tend to be more measured and demonstrate an 
understanding of how the social determinats of health may operate.

Steve

See below for a selection from Dr's
---------------------------------------

Unsurprisingly, the areas most affected by ill health are those areas 
where slothful and gluttonous lifestyles are most prevalent. More self 
respect, respect for others and getting up from their lazy backsides to 
both get a job and do some more exercise would be far better than 
wasting hard working taxpayers money.
Dr W Simon, London

These studies incorrectly assume that health should be "equal". However, 
the moment one person decides to give up cigarettes and take up exercise 
then they become "unequal" to those who keep smoking and sit at home. We 
are also "unequal" because some read books and some don't, because some 
are cautious and others take risks, and because some follow advice and 
others don't. We should accept that people are different. Despite that, 
we have all got much healthier over the last century.
Dr James Thompson, London

It is a widespread misconception that poverty is the cause of health 
inequalities in the UK. This may be the cause in Africa but it is not 
here. The causes are smoking, over consumption of fatty foods, sedentary 
lifestyle and alcohol. These are all problems of excess i.e. misdirected 
personal funds. As such, the problems are not due to lack of money but 
are social in origin. Hence the solution is not to throw money at people 
but to educate, empower and encourage healthy choices. I don't think the 
government's schemes have that in mind.
Dr Reed, Reading

-- 
Dr Steven Cummins
MRC Fellow
Department of Geography
Queen Mary, University of London
Mile End Road, London E1 4NS

Tel: 020 7882 7653 (direct)
Fax: 020 8981 6276
Email: [log in to unmask]

http://www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/staff/cummins.html

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