A report by former government health adviser Derek Wanless for the King's Fund think tank, Our future health secured, reviewed the effectiveness of recent government spending.
It concluded that despite a 50 per cent increase (£43bn) in NHS spending since 2002, when Wanless last reviewed the health service for the government, NHS productivity and unhealthy lifestyles were holding achievements back.
The review looked at success in tackling health inequalities and found the government is unlikely to meet its target for reducing inequalities in infant deaths by 10 per cent by 2010.
According to the latest Department of Health data quoted by Wanless, health inequalities in infant death rates and life expectancy at birth have widened. The figures showed there are higher than average infant mortality rates in two-thirds of deprived local authority areas compared with 27 per cent in non-deprived areas.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
