In a new report published by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) suggestions that
doctors should centre on tackling health inequalities as part of their everyday practice are tackled. In spite of an increase in life expectancy of UK inhabitants over the last ten years there are many variations in the quality of life across the UK, this can result in lesser life expectancies in some areas.
In deprived areas across the UK, life expectancies can vary dramatically. Life expectancy in males can vary from 73 years of age in poorer, deprived areas to 79 in more affluent areas of London for example. The report aims to identify how doctors can take account of these social inequalities in areas of their work and seek to address the issue through alternative means.
The report suggests some recommendations which include refocusing resources towards prevention rather than merely treating the effects of ill health due to locality. The report lays out recommendations and identifies opportunities for health management for people from disadvantaged back grounds and poorer areas. The report also addresses issues such as how to encourage patients to engage in 'healthy' activities such as cycling and asks doctors to consult with local authorities to supply resources and additional green spaces to accommodate and support an increase in healthy living.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), has published a strategy to assist GPs and help them to accomplish a number of suggestions set out in the recently available report, NICE are also committed to helping patients in communities around the UK.
The guidelines include recommendations to encourage the need for exercise and healthy living as well as supplementary procedure intended to support doctors and help them to offer preventative measures. An example of this is prescribing statins, a class of drug used to lower cholesterol levels in patients that are at risk of developing heart disease.
The new processes are suggested to take in hand the current exercise of treating the patient that sits in front of the doctor by looking beyond their symptoms and try to address the problem through other means to prevent continual recurrences.