DH admits insufficient resources were put into cutting health inequalities

The resources and focus given to reducing health inequalities in the United Kingdom in the past were lacking, Department of Health leaders have admitted.

MPs on the parliamentary public accounts select committee held on 14 September quizzed department officials as part on their inquiry to examine the National Audit Office (NAO) report Tackling inequalities in life expectancy in areas with the worst health and deprivation, published in July (BMJ 2010; 341:c3558 doi: 10.1136/bmj.c3558).

That report concluded that the government had made a serious attempt to tackle health inequalities, but having set targets, it took too long to embed the issue in policy and to develop an evidence base of cost effective interventions.

Consequently, although …