5.2.4
Regional
Regional Inequalities in Health Chances
Regional Inequalities in Health Chances
There are a number of regional differences within the UK in terms of health and life expectancy. These include North versus South, rural versus urban and poor versus rich areas.
The North-South divide
The North-South divide
- The chances of dying early (below the age of 75) are a fifth higher in the North of England compared to the South.
- People living in the North are likely to spend more of their lives with a disability.
The rural-urban divide
The rural-urban divide
- People living in rural communities have poorer access to services, including hospitals and doctors surgeries.
- Ambulance services tend to located in urban areas, with the potential to reduce their effectiveness in more rural locations (e.g. response time).
The poor-rich divide
The poor-rich divide
- People living in poorer areas of the UK are more likely to suffer from more ill-health, as well as die younger.
- Male life expectancy in Glasgow (a poorer area of the UK) is 13 years less than those living in the London borough of Kensington and Chelsea (one of the wealthiest areas of the UK).
- Female life expectancy in Glasgow is ten years less than those in Kensington and Chelsea.
Explanations
Explanations
- Differences can be explained in terms of social class, age, gender and ethnic composition of different areas of the UK.
- The allocation of resources also plays a role:
- Hacking et al. found that there still existed a North-South divide in health outcomes between people of the same social class because people in the South (of all classes) had greater access to resources, such as education, specialist hospitals and more GPs.
1Theory & Methods
1.1Sociological Theories
1.2Sociological Methods
2Education with Methods in Context
2.1Role & Function of the Education System
2.2Educational Achievement
2.3Relationships & Processes Within Schools
3Option 1: Culture & Identity
3.1Conceptions of Culture
3.2Identity & Socialisation
3.3Social Identity
3.4Production, Consumption & Globalisation
4Option 1: Families & Households
4.1Families & Households
4.2Changing Patterns
4.3The Symmetrical Family
4.4Children & Childhood
5Option 1: Health
5.1Social Constructions
5.2Social Distribution of Healthcare
5.3Provision & Access to Healthcare
5.4Mental Health
6Option 1: Work, Poverty & Welfare
6.1Poverty & Wealth
7Option 2: Beliefs in Society
7.1Ideology, Science & Religion
7.2Religious Movements
7.3Society & Religion
8Option 2: Global Development
8.1Development, Underdevelopment & Global Inequality
8.2Globalisation & Global Organisations
8.3Aid, Trade, Industrialisation, Urbanisation
9Option 2: The Media
9.1Contemporary Media
9.2Media Representations
10Crime & Deviance
10.1Crime & Society
10.2Social Distribution of Crime
Jump to other topics
1Theory & Methods
1.1Sociological Theories
1.2Sociological Methods
2Education with Methods in Context
2.1Role & Function of the Education System
2.2Educational Achievement
2.3Relationships & Processes Within Schools
3Option 1: Culture & Identity
3.1Conceptions of Culture
3.2Identity & Socialisation
3.3Social Identity
3.4Production, Consumption & Globalisation
4Option 1: Families & Households
4.1Families & Households
4.2Changing Patterns
4.3The Symmetrical Family
4.4Children & Childhood
5Option 1: Health
5.1Social Constructions
5.2Social Distribution of Healthcare
5.3Provision & Access to Healthcare
5.4Mental Health
6Option 1: Work, Poverty & Welfare
6.1Poverty & Wealth
7Option 2: Beliefs in Society
7.1Ideology, Science & Religion
7.2Religious Movements
7.3Society & Religion
8Option 2: Global Development
8.1Development, Underdevelopment & Global Inequality
8.2Globalisation & Global Organisations
8.3Aid, Trade, Industrialisation, Urbanisation
9Option 2: The Media
9.1Contemporary Media
9.2Media Representations
10Crime & Deviance
10.1Crime & Society
10.2Social Distribution of Crime
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