http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4139440.stm

  Health inequality gap 'widening'

Health inequalities are widening despite government efforts
to narrow the gap, independent experts say.

The government pledged to reduce the inequality gap -
measured by infant mortality and life expectancy - by 10%
between 1997 and 2010.

But latest figures show that on both counts the gap between
the poorest and population as a whole has increased.

The report* by a government advisory group said progress had
been made on child poverty and improving housing.

The Scientific Reference Group of Health Inequalities study
also said the gap had narrowed for cancer and heart disease
death rates.

Group chairman Professor Sir Michael Marmot said the
reduction in child poverty already seen - from 1999 to 2004
it fell from 24% to 20% - would lead to a reduction in
health inequalities, but not by 2010.

"This report gives no grounds for complacency that enough
has yet been done."

But speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said the
figures needed to be set against "dramatic improvements" in
the overall health of all social groups over the last 100 years.

"We'd still like it to be as good in the worst off groups as
it is in the best - and it's improved more rapidly in the
best off than it has in the worst off - but it's improved
dramatically right across the board," he added.

To tackle inequality the government needed to look at "the
circumstances in which people live and work, and the ways we
raise our children, the standards of education", he said.

The Department of Health-commissioned report found the gap
in life expectancy between the bottom fifth and the
population as a whole had widened by 2% for males and 5% for
females between 1997-9 and 2001-3.

The shift means the life expectancy in the wealthiest areas
is seven to eight years longer than the poorest areas.

The gap in the infant mortality rate was 19% higher in
2001-3 between the poorest and general population, compared
to 13% higher in 1997-9.

Health inequalities expert Danny Dorling, professor of human
geography at the University of Sheffield, said he was not
surprised by the findings.

Wealth

"The government has some nice schemes, but without tackling
wealth inequalities, which are widening, it is not going to
be able to tackle health inequalities.

"This is the first Labour government that has failed to
narrow the gap. It is astonishing after eight years and
making reducing health inequality a key target that we are
in this position."

But Public Health Minister Caroline Flint maintained the
government could take something positive from the report.

"It shows encouraging signs that we are moving in the right
direction on some of the problems associated with health
inequalities."

She also unveiled the first 12 areas to get personalised
health trainers, a scheme first unveiled in November's
Public Health White Paper.

* report - Tackling Health Inequalities: Status Report on
the Programme for Action - is available at
www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/11/76/98/04117698.pdf

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