Mayor of London launches strategy on health inequalities

July 2010 saw the launch of the first ever health inequalities strategy for London.

The Greater London Authority (GLA) has set out its plan to reduce health inequalities in the city and promote London as a healthy place for all.

Preventable accidents are highlighted in the strategy as a particular problem for Londoners. It has long been known that children from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to be killed or injured in accidents, and the GLA has examined how this affects those living in the capital.

London’s Health Inequalities Strategy mentions the significance of road accidents that contribute to the problem: “A report on road safety in 2006 found that pedestrians in the most deprived areas of London are 2.5 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured in a road traffic accident than their counterparts in the least deprived areas.”

In the section on new homes and planning, the strategy also recognises that: “Overcrowding increases the risk of accidents and reinforces health inequalities, with a particularly negative impact on the health and development of children.”

Objectives of the GLA Health Inequalities strategy

The strategy sets our five core objectives:

• Empower individuals and communities to improve health and well-being.
• Improve access to high quality health and social care services particularly for Londoners who have poor health outcomes.
• Reduce income inequality and the negative consequences of relative poverty.
• Increase the opportunities for people to access the potential benefits of good work and other meaningful activity.
• Develop and promote London as a healthy place for all.

The action plan that accompanies the strategy gives a broad indication of how the GLA intends to achieve these objectives. Most of the objectives will be achieved through existing networks and partnerships across the city. The action plan also mentions encouraging the public sector to work more closely with partners in the voluntary sector, as well as with individuals and communities.

There is no specific mention of accident prevention in the action plan, however the GLA does intend to increase and improve delivery of integrated solutions for early years and families, with specific mention of earlier plans and recommendations such as the Marmot Review and Every Child Matters. This offers an opportunity for London-based accident prevention partners to make the case for accident prevention as an important factor in reducing health inequalities in London.

More information

View the London Health Inequalities Strategy and the accompanying action plan First Steps to Delivery

If you are looking to tackle health inequalities in your area, there is a wealth of guidance on the Local Government Improvement and Development website. Have a look at tackling health inequalities for more information.  Although only a few of the examples deal specifically with accidents, the majority of them provide useful background on successful approaches.

You can also look at the Department of Health’s report on tackling health inequalities: policy and data update. This report follows the progress that has been made by spearhead local authorities and primary care trusts in hitting the health inequalities national target. The target was to reduce infant mortality rates and improve life expectancy by 10% by 2010. While the report makes no specific mention of child accident prevention, it does highlight tools and support for addressing health inequalities.