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Ten things you wish you’d seen in The Health of the Nation

1 A recognition that social class inequalities in health are widening — rather than the complacent statement that reduction in inequality by 25% by the year 2000 ‘does not seem likely on present evidence to be achieved’.

2 Acknowledgement that poverty, rather than ignorance, causes poor diet — as the National Children’s Home report in the week of the green paper’s launch showed.

3 The table, rumoured to have been axed from a early draft, showing the strong link between poor housing and ill health.

4 A more imaginative target for mental health promotion than the only suggested one of closing 90 large psychiatric hospitals by the year 2000.

5 Some explanation of the alarming fact — revealed only in the appendix — that the suicide rate for 20 to 24 year old men rose by 71% over the period 1980 to 1989.

6 A commitment to enforce stronger measures to limit — or ban — tobacco advertising than the feeble ‘voluntary agreement’ which is constantly being breached.

7 A mention of the P-word. Does poverty exist or doesn’t it ? We should be told.

8 Discussion of how unemployment affects health — and a target for central government of ensuring a basic income for all.

9 An explanation of how activity to meet the proposed health targets is to be resourced — given that it ‘must not be at the expense of NHS treatment and care services’.

10 Suggestions for further reading: to include the Black report, The Health Divide, and back issues of healthmatters..