New Report Advises On How To Reduce Health Inequalities, UK

Main Category: Diabetes
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 28 Jul 2009 - 12:00 PDT

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A new report, 'The Intelligent Board 2009: Commissioning to reduce inequalities', produced by an independent reference group of experts, encourages Primary Care Trust (PCT) Boards to review their understanding of health inequalities in their communities so that they can be addressed.

Supported by Dr Foster, a public/private partnership that aims to improve the quality and efficiency of health and social care, the report states that tackling health inequalities is one of the most complex and important tasks facing the healthcare system.

The report calls for Primary Care Trusts to use their commissioning power to direct resources, build partnerships and reshape services to secure better outcomes for all.

Jenne Dixit, Equality and Diversity Manager says: "We welcome the report as it encourages PCTs to do more to address health inequalities. We know that people from deprived areas are 2.5 times more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes.

"They are also over three times more likely to develop the serious complications of diabetes including heart disease, stroke and kidney damage, than people from higher socio-economic groups. It is therefore crucial that we do everything we can to reach people from deprived backgrounds meet their health needs."

Source
Diabetes UK