Unsound health policy kills 1 mln. prematurely in England: Experts

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
8 Jan 2024 15:55

A study has found austerity measures paired with COVID-19 exacerbated the impact of health inequalities in England.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visits the National Health Service's, Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, England, on June 30, 2023. (AP)

A study conducted by the Institute of Health Equity at University College London, led by Michael Marmot, has uncovered a staggering toll of over one million premature deaths in England over the last decade.

The research, titled Health Inequalities, Lives Cut Short, attributes this alarming figure to a combination of poverty, austerity measures, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Between 2011 and 2019, 1,062,334 individuals died earlier than they would have if they were living in areas where the richest 10% of the population did. Additionally, the study reported 151,615 premature deaths in 2020, with a notable spike attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Professor Peter Goldblatt, the study's author, directly linked 148,000 deaths to austerity measures implemented since 2010, comparing them to earlier levels. The findings underscore the stark economic and social inequalities leading to premature deaths, primarily from cancer, heart problems, and other diseases affecting the most vulnerable populations.

UK Health: An example of 'what not to do'

Marmot, known for his seminal review on health inequalities in 2010, expressed dismay at the "dismal state of affairs." He criticized austerity measures, labeling the one million premature deaths as a "shocking political failure," emphasizing the widening health disparities across English society.

"Our country has become poor and unhealthy, where a few rich, healthy people live. People care about their health, but it is deteriorating, with their lives shortening, through no fault of their own. Political leaders can choose to prioritize everyone’s health, or not. Currently, they are not," Marmot said.

The expert highlighted poor decision-making regarding the UK's health sector, saying that the country provided the world with "what not to do to reduce health inequalities." Additionally, he said, "The only other developed country doing worse is the USA, where life expectancy is falling."

The study also highlighted the broader implications of health disparities, citing a Cancer Research UK analysis estimating 33,000 additional cancer cases annually associated with deprivation. Women from England's poorest areas were reported to die, on average, five years earlier than their wealthier counterparts.

NHS left to fall apart

This comes as England's public health provider, the National Health Service (NHS), faces mounting crises, induced by a lack of government funding, culminating in low wages, a lack of equipment, and worsening services.

In September 2023, data revealed that approximately two million patients and 43,000 NHS staff are facing risks due to deteriorating concrete conditions in hospital buildings, The Telegraph reported.

According to information from the Liberal Democrats, seven hospitals, including four with widespread issues of crumbling reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), cater to a total of 1.94 million people in various communities. Among the hospital staff are 5,000 doctors, 11,500 nurses, and midwives, all working in environments that NHS leaders labeled as posing "a major risk to patient and staff safety."

The situation became more urgent when Julian Kelly, the NHS chief financial officer, informed the public accounts committee that tens of additional hospital sites were affected by RAAC, surpassing the initial estimate. He mentioned ongoing efforts to conduct comprehensive surveys, clarifying that not all cases involved patient areas.