There are those such as June Isaacson Kailes “ Be a Savvy Health Care Consumer, Your Life May Depend on It” (2000) that would that believe that you simply must insist on more information from your GP, and in her book she illustrates how one should question the advice given to them by their GP, and demonstrates how to do so. I.e. don’t pretend you understand your GP, if you don’t. But she fails to take into consideration the fact that many people are spoken to, by their GP, Doctor, and Consultant etc. in a very complex vocabulary, which they are unfamiliar with. Those from the lower socio-economic backgrounds mainly expressed difficulty when they visited the doctor. Many felt that the Doctor used elaborate speech, which they didn’t understand in addition to spending very little time with them. This was proven by Tudor Heart (1981) who reported that G.P’s on average spend more time with those from the higher socio-economic groups, than the lower ones.
The Health Promotion Agency, is just one of the many methods that’s helps promote healthy living and health lifestyles throughout the UK. It is a government run agency, and focuses on the development of the public health workforce through a variety of means in order to ensure the delivery of health improvement. It runs campaigns in order to highlight particular health problems, and places the responsibility on the individual to improve their own health. They run numerous campaigns throughout the year, ranging from those that encourage individuals to stop smoking and cut down on alcohol intake, to campaigns that target specific groups. I.e. Breast cancer awareness, aimed at women, and Testicular cancer awareness, aimed solely at men. The campaigns aimed particularly at men, have added importance, because men have a tendency to ignore symptoms, and are reluctant to visit the doctor, therefore more men than ever die of diseases of the reproductive organs, than ever before. It does this through using poster campaigns, right through to hard-hitting advertisements, such as those, which depict drinking and driving, and demonstrate the consequences of this. Through campaigns like these, all, or at least the majority of the population, come in contact with them at some stage, however this doesn’t explain why some people take heed of them, and some people simply do not.
The inequalities that exist in the health of society, are of concern to the nation as a whole, and represent one of the biggest possible challenges to the conduct of government policy. Socio-economic and health factors play a role in how and where resources are allocated. The World Health Organisation regional office for Europe has set targets for ‘ Health for All, by the Year 2000’, which were originally endorsed in 1984 by all member countries. The first of the 38 targets in the programme is equity in health defined as to bring about a reduction of at least 25% in the difference in health status between groups and countries, by improving the level of health of disadvantaged groups. However, implementation, of these targets isn’t always achieved. Evidence, from (Health P.65) shows that those from lower, socio-economic backgrounds experience worse health than those from higher socio-economic backgrounds. This is because evidence from Peter Aggleton “Health” (1990) suggest that those from higher socio-economic backgrounds make better use of the health care there is available to them. This is because they are generally better educated, and so they are aware of the many services that there are available to them, and also the ones that they are entitled to. Those from lower socio-economic backgrounds tend not to avail of the service, generally because they are unaware of them, and those they are aware of are inaccessible to them. I.e. Too far away, expensive to get to, at impractical times.
However many from lower socio-economic backgrounds acknowledge that they live an unhealthy lifestyle, however blame the government for not providing them with enough money in family allowance, child support, and social security money. Because of this, they are unable to afford to buy fresh fruit and vegetables, as they are expensive, instead opting for ready-made meals, fast foods, and tins. Those from higher socio-economic groups can afford to buy food fresh, and even buy organic, as many believe this is an even healthier option. In relation to alcohol, those from lower socio-economic groups tend to drink much more alcohol, in greater quantities; there are many reasons for this, one being that it helps them escape the strains of everyday living, and worrying about bills etc. Those from higher socio-economic backgrounds, drink alcohol, but instead tend to drink socially and much less frequent. In addition to this, poor insulated housing that is damp also creates health problems, in that it agitates those who suffer from asthma, and other breathing difficulties, and when ill, those who get paid by the hour are much less likely to attend the doctor, as they simply cannot afford to take time off. Peter Townsend, Health 2000.
Also, with the recent influx in private health care schemes, advertised in magazines and on television, such as BUPA, many are opting to go private when in need of medical treatment. However those who cannot afford this must remain on the NHS waiting lists, and rely on them for operations. Many die, or become chronically ill, past the point were an operation will help them, simply because they have been waiting too long.
In1980, the Black Report was published, which highlighted major inequalities in health, within Britain, through the NHS. It began a watershed in the way people though about how different factors can affect our health, and how there was actually a ‘health divide’. Peter Townsend stated “everyone is equal, however some are more equal than others”.
However, a lot has been done in recent years to promote healthy living to all ends of the socio-economic spectrum, with a vast majority of it aimed at the lower end. Now, even when a child is in primary school, they are subjected to health promotion, such as how to properly brush his or her teeth, healthy school meals, in addition to road safety etc. So it is understandable that questions are asked as to why some people remain a lot healthier than others.
However, it is a common myth to say that those from middle class backgrounds experience better health overall. Many in today’s society believe that they are protected from severe infection, as they associate this with deprivation, believing that it primarily arises amongst the poor, living in dirty, unsanitary conditions. However this has led to complacency amongst people. Through worldwide travel, people now face contracting new and exotic diseases. And over the last 20 years, there has been an emergence of so-called “new” diseases, such as ledionellosis, and AIDS, which can affect any one, regardless of status.
Overall, this essay aims to establish whether we can be left responsible for our own health. It seeks to determine, or in any case comprehend whether our health is a result of the way we live, in regards to our socio-economic status, or if it is the result of the way in which we interpret and act upon the advice and recommendations that are issued to us by GP’s, Consultants, health Campaigns etc. It is a widely regarded analysis, that those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, tend to display much more health problem, than any other group, due to disadvantages concerning money, housing etc, and the inability to question the judgement of those in medical authority. However, this in no way excuses the fact that health campaigns are continuously targeting all sections of the population, and many people, both male and female, from all sections of the population are refusing to acknowledge that they are living an unhealthy lifestyle, and both ignoring and disregarding any advice given to them. It is unrealistic to expect someone to be totally responsible for his or her own health, however society must take more responsibility, otherwise the health of the nation will rapidly decline.
Social Perceptions on Health
