Fair care

Please mind the gap, a report from the All Party Parliamentary Group for Parkinson's, highlights inequalities in service provision for people with Parkinson's and their families. The report calls for a review of the National Service Framework for long term neurological conditions in order to assess levels of implementation, along with support for commissioning and workforce planning. In response, the Parkinson's Disease Society has launched a new campaign, Fair Care for Parkinson's.

Information or intelligence?

Dr Foster Intelligence's latest publication in the Intelligent Board series aims at the inequalities agenda. The Intelligent Board 2009: Commissioning to reduce inequalities comes with a web-based toolkit, providing data on hospital admission rates for a range of conditions that are commonly associated with health inequalities, including diabetes, heart disease and stroke. The gadget is aimed at members of the public as well as Commissioners and other health professionals; it provides reports at PCT and GP practice level.

Marmot review

Consultation on the first phase of the Marmot review of health inequalities opened at the end of June. Questions largely ask for comment on the reports from the nine groups tasked with a survey of the evidence base for social determinants of health. Responses are due in by 5 August. This first phase report will then be published in September 2009.

Minimum standards

The cost of a minimum living standard rose in the past year by about 5%, even with overall prices falling, according to a report published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. First produced in 2008, the Minumum Income Standard Report is based on what members of the public consider necessary for an acceptable standard of living.

Ambition, action, achievement

... is the alliterative phrase attached to a draft framework document fulfilling the community service commitments of the final Darzi report. Along with the quality framework itself, there are 6 guidance papers, one of which addresses the inequalities agenda (Transforming community services for health, wellbeing and reducing inequalities). HSJ has an in-depth review of the framework document.

The state we're in

The 2009 health profiles have been released. Providing a snapshot of health at county or local authority level, they help commissioners and providers to target their activity where it's most needed. Regional and SHA level profiles will be available later in the year. Key changes highlighted by Public Health Minister Gillian Merron include reduction in rates of early death from cancer, heart disease and stroke, as well as increases in general life expectancy and of children's access to PE in state schools.

Target practice

A focus on routine and manual smokers for stop smoking services will make a significant contribution to achieving PSA and health inequality targets, DoH guidance argues. The guidance also stresses the importance of partnerships with local authorities and the third sector and awareness of the wider context of tobacco control.