1. Higher Pupil Conference April 2008 Wealth and Health Presented by Heather Fulton

2. Areas of the course that can be examined are limited Causes of inequalities in wealth and health Consequences of inequalities in wealth and health Government strategies to deal with these inequalities Success of these strategies Extent of wealth and health inequalities The extent to which the founding principles of the NHS are being met Collectivist v Individualist v Third Way debate

3. In 2007 the 2 questions in the Social Issues section were Causes of inequalities in wealth and health Consequences of inequalities in wealth and health Government strategies to deal with these inequalities Success of these strategies Extent of wealth and health inequalities The extent to which the founding principles of the NHS are being met Collectivist v Individualist v Third Way debate

4. This workshop will therefore concentrate on Causes of inequalities in wealth and health Government strategies to deal with these inequalities Success of these strategies

5. Causes of inequalities in wealth and health Unemployment & Low Income Government policies age gender Glass ceiling Career breaks Types of job race Economic policies which encourage or restrict growth Burden of taxation Employment law Level of benefits Spending on health Health education Poor education Trade cycle Illness & disability Lone parents race gender Social class and health Pension levels Complexity of the benefits system Means- testing Illness and age Health provision Discrimination and harassment education Habits and health

6. Government Strategies to overcome inequalities in Wealth and Health Wealth inequalities have an enormous impact on health inequalities Therefore a major Governmentstrategy to overcome health inequalities is to tackle wealth inequalities.

7. Government strategies to tackle Wealth and Health inequalities Social Inclusion reconnecting people with work education health community

8. A major theme of the strategies of successive Labour Governments since 1997 is to promote more individual responsibility for health and wealth through. EDUCATION Government strategies to tackle Health inequalities Individual responsibility for health is promoted through education in schools, GP surgeries, clinics and hospitals and through advertising campaigns. Individual responsibility for wealth is encouraged through persuading people to get off welfare and into work.

9. Smoking bans in Scotland in England Government strategies to tackle Health inequalities Anti -smoking Obesity and exercise Alcohol abuse Make more use of private sector GP practices to provide more education and preventative services Reduce waiting lists Measures to tackle wealth inequalities Healthy Living Centres To promote good health in disadvantaged areas Health promoting schools – encourage healthy eating and exercise “ Working together for a healthier Scotland” Campaigns on TV in press and through NHS Laws NHS Sure Start Help children and carers overcome social exclusion

10. As above but also equal opportunity laws Government strategies to tackle Wealth inequalities Welfare to Work Programme to tackle unemployment Low Income Gender and Race Pension Credit Winter Fuel Allowance Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 New Deal, NMW etc to improve family income Uprating Child Benefit Sure Start programme New Deal National Minimum Wage Working Tax Credit Jobcentre Plus Children Old Age

11. Extent of success of current government policies to end wealth and health inequalities The main government policies get more people back into work reduce and eventually eliminate the number of children living in poverty reduce the number of elderly people living in poverty reduce the differences in health caused by social class increase the the proportion of GDP spent on health in the UK and bring it up to the level of our European neighbours. reduce waiting lists and waiting times Modernise the NHS .