Health Policy (Hansard, 3 May 1995)

§ Mr. Nicholas Brown
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action is being taken by her Department to meet the target set by the World Health Organisation European region in terms of reduction of differences in health status between different groups within countries; and if she will make a statement. [21054]

§ Mr. Sackville
Our "The Health of the Nation" strategy brings together all Government Departments to work to improve health among all groups. Health services in each part of the country are funded according to assessed health need and the national health service reforms mean that health authorities and general practitioners are able to take action locally to address the needs in their area. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 23 March,Official Report, column 353–54.
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§ Mr. Nicholas Brown
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on progress towards meeting the target set by the World Health Organisation European region in respect of reducing the differences in health status between different groups within countries. [21055]

§ Mr. Sackville
Our "The Health of the Nation" key targets are the primary measures against which we monitor progress on reducing avoidable illness and death, and risky behaviour affecting health, across the whole population. "The Health of the Nation" identifies different groups at particular risk and efforts are concentrated on those groups. Progress was reported in "One Year On" and there will be a further report later this year.

§ Mr. Nicholas Brown
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to include among the "The Health of the Nation" targets, the target set by the World Health Organisation European region in respect of reducing the differences in health status between different groups within countries. [21056]

§ Mr. Sackville
Meeting the targets already set in "The Health of the Nation" by focusing efforts on groups particularly at risk should help to reduce variations in health status between different groups.
The new national health service enables health authorities and general practitioners to take action locally to address needs in their area and a considerable amount of work is being done to achieve improvements.
I therefore have no plans to include the World Health Organisation European region target in "The Health of the Nation" targets.