New money for projects to tackle health inequalities in UK

UK
New money for projects to tackle health inequalities in UK
By DOH, UK, Mar 18, 2005 - 4:26:38 PM

Funding for 21 new projects around the country to improve the health of local communities was announced today by Public Health Minister Melanie Johnson. An initial £1.2 million has been made available for the pilot projects, due to start work straight away, which cover a range of public health priorities including obesity, improving sexual health and reducing smoking. Extra money will be targeted towards the schemes in 2005/6, with national rollout from 2006.

The new Communities for Health programme is one of a number taking forward commitments in the Public Health White Paper to improve health in the most disadvantaged areas. Currently some local populations have the same levels of death as the national average in the 1950s.

Over 250 representatives from the 88 most health deprived Primary Care Trusts and 70 Local Authorities are coming together today for the first time to discuss with Public Health Minister Melanie Johnson the common issues and priorities for tackling the profound health inequalities in these areas.

Speaking at the conference in Manchester, Melanie Johnson said:

"We know that where people live has a significant, often negative, impact on their health. There are pockets of deprivation in all areas of the country but in some places the scale of problem is bigger so more focussed action is needed to make long-lasting changes. That is why we established the Spearhead Group of areas with the worst deprivation as the focus for action. The money being distributed today is going towards projects that will encourage people to take up opportunities to improve their health as more activities and facilities will be on offer for them to take this step.

"A lot has already been achieved. Over the past six years the gap between the worst hit areas in the country and the rest of the country on premature deaths from heart disease has been reduced by 22%. Under 18 conceptions are down by 9.8% since 1998. More women in the lowest social groups are breast-feeding than ever before and the uptake of the flu vaccine has improved most amongst the most deprived local authorities compared to the rest of the country. We have a lot more to do and recognise that progress will take time but our achievements so far show what can be done through concerted local action and targeted resources."

"Some innovative projects have today been given the go-ahead, such as bringing a disused Victorian garden back to life in Gateshead for children and older people to plant fruit and vegetables which they can eat when harvested. This will help encourage physical activity in the local population and improve knowledge of healthy eating . This is the type of local action that alongside national programmes such as the school fruit and vegetable scheme, can really make a difference."

Alongside the funding, a new resource pack, Creating Healthier Communities, was launched at the conference by the Department of Health and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, to give local bodies the best information on the practical processes and tools needed to improve health in the most deprived neighbourhoods.

Jeff Rooker, Minister for Regeneration at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister said:

"We welcome the Department of Health's targeted approach through the Spearhead Group to improving health in the most disadvantaged communities. Severe health inequalities often occur with other forms of disadvantage, such as high unemployment, high crime and poor housing. Healthy communities need healthy residents and we are determined that a person's life chances should not be dictated by where they live. Local Authorities, working closely with PCTs, have a crucial role to play in improving public health in deprived communities."

An international commitment on health inequalities was also made at the conference with $1.25 million being provided towards the launch of the World Health Organisations' Commission on Social Determinants of Health, a new body to promote action on the social causes behind ill-health.

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