Taking the long view

Inequalities in premature mortality in the UK have risen during the first years of the 21st century, in spite of plenty of serious attention and government intervention, a study published in the BMJ asserts. Looking at data from 1921 to 2007, the review's authors note that, although generally life expectancy has continued to rise, the gap between rich and poor areas is also increasing, to the extent that "inequality in mortality is now greater than at any time since comparable records began."