More doctors needed in deprived areas as health levels worsen

In many of these less economically developed areas, the number of GPs per head of population is well below the number in more affluent areas.

The opportunity to use the revised GP contract to ensure more doctors work in deprived areas has been missed, and the Department of Health (DH) has not focused its attention sufficiently on implementing the key interventions that would make a difference.

Whilst it is encouraging to recognise the overall improvements in health over the last decade, more needs to be done by the NHS to tackle the historically intractable problem of inequality.

In 2004 the Government set the (DH) the target of reducing the gap in life expectancy between 70 'spearhead' local authorities with high deprivation and the population as a whole by 10% by 2010. DH has not met this target and has been exceptionally slow to tackle health inequalities.

It is important that tackling health inequalities does not slip down the Department's agenda whilst proposed changes are introduced for the NHS.

Found this story interesting?
Spread the news by clicking below to add it to your bookmarking service:

• Del.icio.us
• Digg this
• Reddit!