Welfare Reform on the Web (May 2000): Public Health - UK

SOCIAL WORK, HEALTH AND EQUALITY

E. McLeod and P. Bywaters

London, Routledge, 2000

In this book, the authors examine the impact of social inequalities on physical health, how social work generally - not simply in health care settings - may tackle this, and how such practice can be developed. The authors demonstrate that only if a social work redresses social disadvantage and explicitly tackles health inequalities can it play a significant role in producing more equal chances of physical health and greater equity when ill.

TACKLING INEQUALITIES - THE ACHESON AGENDA

C. and V. Worth

British Journal of Health Care Management, vol.6, 2000, p.46-48

The article examines the difficulties facing Health Authorities (Has) in tackling health inequalities. The article concentrates on:

• methodological issues;
• resistance to change in mainstream services and their funding;
• how inequalities of access to health care are taken for granted;
• inability to demonstrate the effectiveness of interventions to reduce health inequalities in a sufficiently acceptable short-term period to secure funding;
• cultural barrier - how existing prejudices and mindsets within a HA may promote inequalities.

The article concludes that local partnerships are needed to eliminate health inequalities, and local people need to be represented in planning and management arrangements.

TACKLING INEQUALITIES IN HEALTH IN NORTHERN IRELAND

A. Lazenbatt

Community Practitioner, vol.73, 2000, p.481-483

Health visitors' key contribution to the government strategy on tackling poverty and inequality in Northern Ireland is outlined.