Long-term ill health, poverty and ethnicity Book

Chronic ill health is now recognised as a major public health and social welfare issue, with significant new policy initiatives in recent months. This report presents findings from a detailed new investigation into the experiences of individuals living with long-term ill health and their families. New in-depth qualitative material is combined with secondary analyses of national datasets to examine the ways in which long-term ill health has an impact on different dimensions of poverty. The report: explores the links between long-term ill health and three interrelated areas: employment, welfare benefits, and social participation and social support; covers an ethnically diverse sample in order to explore, although not assume, the relevance of ethnicity for the experience and consequences of long-term ill health; and identifies ways in which current UK health and social policy might better serve the needs of people with long-term health conditions. Long-term ill health, poverty and ethnicity is of importance to policy makers and practitioners working across the public health and social welfare arenas. The findings are of relevance to a wide range of programme areas including: access to employment, welfare benefits, chronic illness self-management (Expert Patients Programmes) and minority ethnic disadvantage. Researchers and students will also find the report of interest.Read More