Inequalities in health care and health status Inequalities in health care have resulted in disparities in health status. The impact is particularly evident amongst social class V who suffer from lower life expectancies (Townsend: 1992). There is consistent evidence that those in social class V are more likely to be exposed to multiple, environmental risks that portend adverse health consequences. They are more likely to encounter pollution, noise, substandard quality housing and crowding. Typically, lower class …showed first 75 words of 394 total…

…showed last 75 words of 394 total…NHS patients with depreciating access to hospital facilities and consultants. Operations can be delayed or canceled as private patients or more urgent cases are placed ahead of the list (Walters: 1980). Pre-eminent medication with increased effectiveness and less side effects is predominantly offered only to private patients due to cost issues. The accumulation of inequalities in access to health care and quality results in variations of health status, with those particularly disadvantaged in Social class V.