Inequalities in Health: The Black Report and The Health Divide

Karen Webb, RCN Regional Director for the Eastern Region 

I was studying O Levels when I read this book and became aware of the impact at that time of inequalities because of gender, class, education, income, race and disability on health outcomes and quality of life. I came from a Geordie Council estate and thought there should be more.

Review

Historical shocking findings of 1977 Labour Government research into the widening gap in health between richest and poorest. Even then there was talk of the need for health and social care integration and hard to reach communities. Solutions proposed to improve child health include non means tested universal milk, increasing funded for home helps, cigarettes with health warnings and child benefit was to increase to 5.5% of the average gross male wage. Later supported by the updated The Health Divide (1988) described as “political dynamite” I thoroughly recommend them for future nurses who question the status quo.

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