On 22 July the Department of Health and Social
Care published and ‘open consultation (Green Paper) Advancing our health:
prevention in the 2020s https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/advancing-our-health-prevention-in-the-2020s/advancing-our-health-prevention-in-the-2020s-consultation-document
There is no closing date for responses to
the consultation for which an online questionnaire is provided, although a word
document could be sent to the social care Minister Caroline Dinenage MP msc@dhsc.gov.uk
There are about 15 specific questions relating
matters affecting our health and wellbeing.
Most of these questions have been around for a long time and there is
good reason to suppose that they will be dragging society down for many more unless
and until a more fundamental approach is taken by our central Government. For the purpose of this blog it is important
to note that ‘living conditions’ are identified as an underlying cause of
illness, stress and premature death. So
those with concern for housing and green (and blue) infrastructure have the
opportunity to suggest to the Minister that
the discovery that trees can contribute to a healthier environment could
justify the adoption of the principles
and methodologies being advocated by the National Forest Garden Scheme and to
support the movement to promote bioregions as the guiding principle for land
use planning. The Government should be
made aware that the housing model being promoted by developers, Homes England,
Growth Boards and Local Planning Authorities has produced swathes of anti-social
housing. By pandering to privacy we are
the loneliest people in Europe and new models of community-led housing should
become the norm.
Another point that could be made is the
identification of stress and anxiety being caused by growing awareness of the
effects of climate change. This will impact on sleep deprivation (one of the
specific questions) and levels of mental health. In this respect carbon reduction targets are
a matter for the Department.
But the main problem is that this and
previous Governments will not see these issues as being symptomatic of the
levels of inequality that make the UK world leading in this respect. For example, the percentage of people in
prison in a country is directly correlated to levels of inequality and this
leads to proposals to build more prisons.
Until we become more equal (even if this coincides with use becoming
poorer – see The Spirit Level 2009 by Wilkinson and Pickett) these issues will
remain intractable.
A final thought about inequality. The comparison made in The Spirit Level to
show that more economically equal countries have fewer social problems cannot
be made between this world and any other.
It is unlikely that any earlier period would reveal a more equal world
for such comparative study to be carried out.
However, on an absolute basis, Government should be made aware that
inequality has a divisive and corroding effect and fighting against
inequalities across the world is likely to have a beneficial effect on its own
population.
