30 September 2022
Today the BSR, together with our partners in the Inequalities in Health Alliance (IHA), have written to the new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Therese Coffey MP to stress the importance of delivering a White Paper on tackling health disparities by the end of year.
The over 200 member organisations of the IHA have been pushing for the government to tackle rising rates of health inequality since October 2020, calling for a holistic approach to improving the wider determinants of public health.
The Alliance said in its letter to Dr Coffey MP “Your appointment comes at a critical moment in our efforts to tackle health inequality, and while we understand you will have much to do, reducing the avoidable differences in health across the population must be a priority. Health inequalities that were exacerbated by the pandemic now risk being further engrained if bold, ambitious action is not taken quickly. We urge you to maintain the commitment to publishing a Health Disparities White Paper by the end of this year.”
The letter by the IHA is strengthened by polling carried out on behalf of the Royal College of Physicians, which showed the cost-of-living crisis was further worsening people’s health. The polling showed 55% of British adults in the UK feel their health has been negatively affected by the rising cost of living, with the increasing costs of heating (84%), food (78%) and transport (46%) reported as the top three factors. 1 in 4 who felt their health had been negatively affected had also been told this by a doctor or other health professional.
BSR President Dr Sanjeev Patel said “The BSR is backing the call of the IHA for a White Paper to be published by the end of 2022 which addresses health disparities within the population. It is crucial for Rheumatology as a speciality, and all those who rely on our vital services, for the wider determinants of public health to be tackled by the government so pressure can be taken off our already stretched services.”
“That is why we are calling on Dr Coffey MP as the new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to maintain the government’s commitment to bring forward this White Paper by the end of the year.”
“The BSR will continue to work with our partners in the IHA to make the case for tackling rising inequalities in health and for well-funded Rheumatology MDTs across the whole of the United Kingdom.”