So, whats new? Experiential knowledge is a much neglected source of
expertise both on the causes of ill health and the unequal distribution
of it and on ways of responding. This form of knowledge/expertise is
widely devalued as prejudiced, subjective (and what's wrong with that)
and irrelevant amongst health professionals and academics and
particularly amongst those that have the ears of the policy
makers/politicians. Jennie popay
-----Original Message-----
From: Social Determinants of Health [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Dennis Raphael
Sent: 12 August 2005 23:58
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [SDOH] Lay and professional responses to Health inequality gap
'widening'
Please respond to Steven Cummins <[log in to unmask]>
Sent by: "The Health Equity Network (HEN)"
<[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
cc:
Subject: Lay and professional responses to Health inequality gap
'widening'
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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