What effect does austerity have on health?
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What effect does austerity have on health?
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Azeem Majeed has recently written an interesting blog on doc2doc about Primary Care in Europe: Entering the Age of Austerity BMA News reports that the soaring unemployment across Europe caused by the
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Forums » Off duty » News & media » What effect does austerity have on health?
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What effect does austerity have on health?
posted at 27/6/2012 2:25 PM BST
on bmj.com
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*Moderator*
Posts: 1449
First: 7/4/2011 Last: 23/5/2013 |
Azeem Majeed has recently written an interesting blog on doc2doc about Primary Care in Europe: Entering the Age of Austerity BMA News reports that the soaring unemployment across Europe caused by the recession and austerity measures has had a major effect on public health and health (in)equalities. Professor Sir Michael Marmot, author of the Fair Society, Healthy Lives report has said that for every 1 per cent rise in unemployment in Europe there was a 0.8 per cent rise in suicides. He said "As a result of economic policy, people are killing themselves – they are killing each other. But the good news is there is a drop in traffic deaths – people can’t afford to drive a car." Can we clearly correlate the two? I am sure Professor Marmot knows a great deal more than me! What other health problems or public health issues does austerity bring with it? What have you observed at your place of work? |
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Re: What effect does austerity have on health?
posted at 27/6/2012 3:06 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 1266
First: 13/4/2010 Last: 21/5/2013 |
The evidence for a link between poverty and ill-health is over-whelming - both at a national and an international level. Please read Prof. Marmot's excellent book The Status Syndrome of which one professorial review said: "Michael Marmot's mastery of complex, multi-factorial epidemiological "puzzles" finds a crystal clear output in this revelatory book. Status Syndrome brings together many themes around the social determinants of health and makes clear for a broad readership (including opinion leaders in health and social policy!) why reducing social inequalities is so important for the health of populations. I will certainly be recommending it for my public health trainees, and I hope professionals from many backgrounds with the potential to create a more cohesive, trustworthy and co-operative society will also read it." |
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Re: What effect does austerity have on health?
posted at 27/6/2012 3:53 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 225
First: 15/5/2012 Last: 22/5/2013 |
In Response to What effect does austerity have on health?: Azeem Majeed has recently written an interesting blog on doc2doc about Primary Care in Europe: Entering the Age of Austerity BMA News reports that the soaring unemployment across Europe caused by the recession and austerity measures has had a major effect on public health and health (in)equalities. Professor Sir Michael Marmot, author of the Fair Society, Healthy Lives report has said that for every 1 per cent rise in unemployment in Europe there was a 0.8 per cent rise in suicides. He said "As a result of economic policy, people are killing themselves – they are killing each other. But the good news is there is a drop in traffic deaths – people can’t afford to drive a car." Can we clearly correlate the two? I am sure Professor Marmot knows a great deal more than me! What other health problems or public health issues does austerity bring with it? What have you observed at your place of work? Posted by mbillingsley Matthew: Last week there was an article about it in Newsweek. To my understanding Italy and Greece has had a spike in suicide rates secondary to escalating unemployment rates. Please correct me if I am wrong. |
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Re: What effect does austerity have on health?
posted at 29/6/2012 1:41 PM BST
on bmj.com
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First: 7/4/2011 Last: 23/5/2013 |
I'll have to get round to reading it. How about austerity fuelling the black market of people selling their body parts in Europe? http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48008837/ns/world_news-the_new_york_times/t/black-market-body-parts-spreads-among-europes-poor/#.T-2gylLBSHd In Response to Re: What effect does austerity have on health?: The evidence for a link between poverty and ill-health is over-whelming - both at a national and an international level. Please read Prof. Marmot's excellent book The Status Syndrome of which one professorial review said: " Michael Marmot's mastery of complex, multi-factorial epidemiological "puzzles" finds a crystal clear output in this revelatory book. Status Syndrome brings together many themes around the social determinants of health and makes clear for a broad readership (including opinion leaders in health and social policy!) why reducing social inequalities is so important for the health of populations. I will certainly be recommending it for my public health trainees, and I hope professionals from many backgrounds with the potential to create a more cohesive, trustworthy and co-operative society will also read it ." And I mean poverty in the broadest sense - fiscal, housing, education, opportunity, psycho-social, dietary, esteem, etc. Posted by skyesteve |
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Re: What effect does austerity have on health?
posted at 29/6/2012 2:55 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 1266
First: 13/4/2010 Last: 21/5/2013 |
It's an interesting question - should consenting adults be allowed to do what they wish with their bodies? So if they want to donate a kidney for money should we allow it? And if not, why not? Afterall we wouldn't dream of condemning someone for cutting off some of their hair and selling that if someone else wanted it. Personally, I wish there was a market for spare six packs as I would like one... |
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Re: What effect does austerity have on health?
posted at 15/8/2012 10:33 AM BST
on bmj.com
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First: 7/4/2011 Last: 23/5/2013 |
New BMJ research has concluded that there has been a rise in the number of suicides in England since the financial crisis in 2008 - and from whence we have not yet recovered. Regions that have experienced the largest rise in unemployment have seen an increase in suicides, particularly among men. Worrying stuff. http://www.bmj.com/content/345/bmj.e5142 |
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Re: What effect does austerity have on health?
posted at 17/8/2012 1:49 AM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 107
First: 13/3/2012 Last: 22/5/2013 |
In my area, I find that people are putting off looking after their health until it reaches emergency proportions. Rather than book for appointments when the situation is just beginning, they are leaving it until it becomes urgent and they are having trouble coping. Others who can cope, are letting it go completely. So it's only fear that is sending them for help, not the condition itself. As a result there are many whose health is deteriorating and will present much later, when the condition has a more serious hold, and the possibility of regaining health is much reduced. If changes to the health scheme come in as predicted, the help will be even less available.
When it comes to paying bills, rent, rates, electricity, water (which are the highest in the country), food and other necessities, health is last on the list. People are reluctant to drive cars unless absolutely necessary as it costs almost 100 dollars to fill the tank. Ahhhh. I remember when it took only $9.95 to fill the tank on my car. Problem is, it costs more than that to use public transport - one way. People are poor if they do drive and poor if they don't. |
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Re: What effect does austerity have on health?
posted at 17/8/2012 4:05 AM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 2948
First: 10/3/2009 Last: 23/5/2013 |
The question is about austerity, not poverty. Our parents and grandparents lived in times of austerity which does not necessarily equate with poverty. A poor family in Australia still has a car and TV and spends money on take-away food. |
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Re: What effect does austerity have on health?
posted at 17/8/2012 7:30 AM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 2054
First: 12/3/2010 Last: 23/5/2013 |
In these terms, "Austerity" usually means a state withdrawal from welfare policies, to reduce government expenditure. Odysseus mentioned a fall in CVS mortality in the UK during WW2, and I have seen so often this rubric, that the generation of children who grew up up in that time and in the years of rationing of food afterwards, that they were more healthy than any other generation, before and possibly since. Born 1947, I can remember rationing books and the awful reconstituted orange juice that I drank from old fashioned medicine bottles, to make sure I got Vit.C. I can't remember feeling deprived of chololate, but of the gorgeous, sticky, molassas-based and vitamin-supplemented malt extract called Virol that my parents gave me, I presume to ensure I got the others as well. Sorry, Memory Lane! My point is that even severe austerity, and post-war Britain was as poor, with bigger debts than any of the EU nations right now, need not mean poorer health. The above dietary supplements were provided by the then new NHS, for young children, whose health was its victory. John |
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Re: What effect does austerity have on health?
posted at 17/8/2012 9:06 AM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 1266
First: 13/4/2010 Last: 21/5/2013 |
Could it not be the case that cardiovascular deaths fell during WWII because millions were being slaughtered on the battle fields instead? It's clear that by simple measures such as life expectancy we are healthier now than ever (and certainly healthier than in the 1940s). Austerity of course doesn't equate directly with poverty but austerity measures hit the poorest hardest and it's clear that poverty impairs health and well-being and cuts years off average life expectancy. |
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