Poverty

• Poverty

  Poverty is a considerable cause of health inequalities.

  Differences in health outcomes are seen most significantly between the affluent areas of Scotland and the more deprived areas.

  Differences in healthcare accessibility - with GP shortages in areas of multiple deprivation, poor living conditions, and no access to proper food and hygiene products, leading to malnourishment.
• Poverty - EXAMPLE & ANALYSIS

  This is seen to reduce life expectancies in the more deprived areas of Scotland. From 2019 to 2021 there was 13.7 years difference in life expectancy from the most to the least deprived areas of Scotland.

  This shows how there are desparities in healthcare standards and health levels between areas of poverty and wealth, highlighting how those who live in poverty are more likely to experience poor health, life-limiting health issues, and medical neglect.
• Poverty - REBUTTAL

  Scottish government have taken many measures to reduce this gap - Additional support for GPs in deprived areas.

  Increasing the funding by £1 million

  AIM: to target health inequalities by ensuring that everyone in deprived areas has healthcare equivalent to that of affluent areas.

  Largely unsuccessful, as since its implementation the inequality has been consistent
• Poverty - REBUTTAL (EXAMPLE & ANALYSIS)

  Patients in socioeconomically deprived areas have, on average, 38 minute less appointments

  This shows the ineffectiveness of government measures, and the ever-existing gap in healthcare standards across Scotland.
• Poverty - EVALUATION

  As a cause of health inequalities it is the most significant, as the healthcare gap has not been tackled effectively, and this causes severe health inequalities.