Health written question – answered at on 3 December 2012.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to tackle health inequality.
The Government is committed to reducing health inequalities as part of a wider focus on fairness and social justice and improving health outcomes for all. As well as helping people live longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives, our aim is to improve the health of the poorest fastest.
As a result of the Health and Social Care Act 2012, we are introducing the first specific legal duties on health inequalities for NHS commissioners and the Secretary of State. The duties include:
the NHS Commissioning Board and clinical commissioning groups will have a duty to have regard to the need to reduce inequalities in access to, and the outcomes of, health care, and; the Secretary of State will have a wider duty, to have regard to the need to reduce inequalities relating to the health service (including both NHS and public health, and relating to all the people of England).
We believe that the provisions in the Act will be a powerful force for tackling health inequalities and improving the health of those with greater health needs.
The Government supports the Institute of Health Equity, based at University College London and led by Professor Sir Michael Marmot, which helps promote the findings of the “Fair Society, Healthy Lives” review of health inequalities across the NHS, public health and local government.
Within a broad strategy to tackle health inequalities across the country, we are also exploring how to address the health needs of those most vulnerable to poor health outcomes, through the Inclusion Health programme.
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