Fair London, Healthy Londoners?

The London Health Commission published a report providing an overview of current health inequalities in London, both in terms of health outcomes and also in relation to key indicators for the wider social determinants of health. It is intended to illustrate the current situation and to stimulate and inform discussion on the focus for future action across London.

The emphasis in this report on indicators of the social determinants of health reflects the priority given to the “causes of the causes” in Fair Society, Healthy Lives, the report of the strategic review of health inequalities in England post-2010, undertaken by Professor Sir Michael Marmot.

The indicators selected and developed for this report are based on the aspirational national high level indicators proposed in the Marmot Review and relevant links to the Review’s policy recommendations are provided in the Executive Summary and Key Findings to inform discussion on future action.

In looking at these indicators for London, the report provides a range of information about health inequalities in London in terms of place, population groups, health and wellbeing outcomes, children and young people and income. It has been designed to be useful to a wide range of stakeholders in health in London, including individuals, organisations, agencies and partnerships at local, regional and national level.

The data are intended to inform local assessment of need and draw attention to areas where action may be most needed. Summary profile charts for all London boroughs are included in Section 3 of this report, allowing local areas to compare their position to London and England as a whole.

The report fulfils a commitment in the London Health Commission’s (LHC) Prospectus 2009-2012 to propose a new set of high level indicators of determinants of health and wellbeing, and health inequalities.

The report "Fair London, healthy Londoners?" is available here.