UK health inequalities: the class system is alive and well

Furler, John; Harris, Elizabeth; Nutbeam, Don; Harris, Mark

doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.2004.tb06469.x

Topics

To the Editor: The Postcard from Heller, Weller and Jamrozik1 may reflect a nostalgic and unrealistic view of how good things are back home. They suggest that, in New South Wales, the health chances of both advantaged and disadvantaged populations are improving, and, in relative terms, social inequalities in health may also be showing “some improvement”.

Correspondence:

1. Heller D, Weller DP, Jamrozik K. UK health inequalities: the class system is alive and well. Med J Aust 2004; 181: 128. <MJA full text>
2. NSW Department of Health. In all fairness: increasing equity in health across NSW. Sydney: NSW Department of Health; 2004. Available at: www.health.nsw.gov.au/pubs/2004/pdf/fairnessreport.pdf (accessed Oct 2004).
3. NSW Department of Health. Public Health Division. The health of the people of NSW: Report of the Chief Health Officer. Sydney: NSW Health, 2002. Available at: www.health.nsw.gov.au/public-health/chorep/chorep.html (accessed Oct 2004).
4. Secretary of State for Health. Saving lives: our healthier nation. London: Stationery Office, 1999. Available at: www.archive.official-documents.co.uk/document/cm43/4386/4386.htm (accessed Oct 2004).
5. Greig AW, Lewins FW, White K. Inequality in Australia. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2003.
6. Harding A. Growing apart: further analysis of income trends in the 1990s. New South Wales Public Health Bulletin 2002; 13(3): 51-53.
7. Peel M. The lowest rung: voices of Australian poverty. Cambridge and New York: Cambridge University Press; 2003.

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