Black Report

Black Report is a document published by the Department of Health and Social Security (now the Department of Health) in the United Kingdom in 1980. The report was commissioned by the Labour Party government and was the first comprehensive review of health inequalities in the UK. The report was named after its chairman, Sir Douglas Black, who was the President of the Royal College of Physicians at the time.

Background

The Black Report was commissioned in response to growing concern about the wide and persistent gap in health outcomes between different social classes in the UK. Despite the introduction of the National Health Service in 1948, which aimed to provide universal access to healthcare, significant disparities in health outcomes remained.

Findings

The Black Report identified a strong correlation between deprivation and ill health. It found that people in lower socio-economic groups had a higher risk of dying prematurely, and of suffering from a range of chronic diseases. The report also found that these health inequalities were not solely due to differences in access to healthcare, but were also influenced by a range of social and economic factors, including housing, education, and employment.

Recommendations

The Black Report made a number of recommendations to address health inequalities. These included measures to improve living conditions, increase income for those in lower socio-economic groups, improve access to education, and provide better support for families and children. The report also recommended that health services should be targeted towards those in greatest need.

Impact

The Black Report had a significant impact on public health policy in the UK and internationally. It led to a greater focus on social determinants of health and the need to address health inequalities through a broad range of social and economic policies. However, the report's recommendations were not fully implemented by the government at the time, and health inequalities remain a significant issue in the UK.

See also

• Marmot Review
• Whitehall Study
• Social determinants of health

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