Opinions on public health are split along class lines

British voters would favour tough government measures to promote public health, a representative survey of 1000 people, published this week, has indicated. However, views on the role of the NHS and priorities for government action differ according to social class.

The survey, which was conducted for the Health Development Agency and the King's Fund, an independent think tank on health policy, showed that poorer people wanted the NHS to focus on treating illness, while the more affluent saw health …