Politics of Health: Fair Access to Health Services

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The social determinants of health are described as ‘conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age…these circumstances are shaped by the distribution of money, power and resources at global, national and local levels’ (CSDH, 2008, p.2). The purpose of this assignment is to identify the way in which members of the Travelling community are impacted by these determinants and how they come to experience different health outcomes. The impact that social and economic conditions have on the lives and health of this particular social group and the political actions taken to address such issues will also be explored and discussed. The issues caused as a result of specific social determinants require action from a political aspect as it involves modifying and improving theories, attitudes, resources, and distribution of power, and applying them to situations where they can be used to effectively strengthen and support the health and wellbeing of the Traveller population (CSDH, 2008). In 2008, the World Health Organisation developed a Commission on Social Determinants of Health entitled "Closing the Gap in a Generation". This report recognised two crucial aspects of social determinants of health that impact the lives and health of those within the Travelling Community (CSDH, 2008). The first aspect examines daily living conditions and access to adequate health care. The second aspect refers to equity in health care services, economic inequalities and distribution of power, money, and resources (CSDH, 2008). Inequalities within these areas give rise to unequal and unjust health outcomes for travellers (Marmot, 2004). First and foremost, when referring to the social status of Travellers within the population, we must examine t... ... middle of paper ... ...10/TR1/AITHS2010_TechnicalReport1_LR_All.pdf?direct=1 [Accessed 2 April 2014]. Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (2002). Investing for Health 2002. Belfast: Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Northern Ireland. Available at: http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/health_development-final_report_-_september_2010.pdf [Accessed 2 April 2014]. Farrell, C., McAvoy, H., Vilde, J. (2004) Tackling Health Inequalities: An All-Ireland Approach to Social Determinants. Dublin: Combat Poverty Agency/Institute of Public Health in Ireland. Marmot, M (2004) The Status Syndrome: how social standing affects our health and longevity. London: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc TSA Consultancy (2004) Environmental Health Concerns of Travellers and Progressing Environmental Health on Sites. Kildare: Traveller Health Unit in the Eastern Region.

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