Getting the measure of quality: Opportunities and challenges
Author(s)/Editor(s): Raleigh VS, Foot C
Publisher/Organizer: The King’s Fund
Publication date: 2010
Number of pages: 36
Language: English
Overview
“Another aspect of quality that has received relatively little focus in the context of the quality measurement initiatives following the Next Stage Review is that of inequalities.
Health care (preventive and curative) should be provided on the basis of clinical need, regardless of personal characteristics such as age, gender, ethnicity, disability, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status or geographical location, and it should aim to reduce differences in health status, access to services and outcomes across population sub-groups.
Equality legislation also mandates requirements for equity, and the Marmot Review has put a renewed focus on health inequalities (Strategic Review of Health Inequalities in England 2009). England has been among the international leaders in terms of setting targets and driving cross-government and public health policies to reduce health inequalities (Department of Health 2009b). Although health inequalities have continued to widen, they remain a top priority for the government. But the quality agenda has not yet encompassed the measurement of inequalities and equity and currently lacks an explicit focus on reducing inequalities.”