Social Context of Health Care - the UK - Assignment Example

Social Context of Health Care Introduction The essay seeks to examine the nature of the contemporary society in the U.K. and the affect of it on an individual or on the groups. The importance of age, nationality, gender, ethnicity, political attitudes as well as multiple choices to either change the life course or to change the working style affects the society on the whole. Thus, transforming the country either in the correct path or leading to widespread revolution. Elucidating is also the life style and the contribution it makes to the society, with special focus on the theory propagated through Marxism or Feminism. Also, the paper would attempt to analyze as well as establish the role of health care in United Kingdom and examine various social and economic factors that directly affect the conditions in the country. The paper would also focus in ensuring that the nature of the contemporary society in the UK is understood and established, following which understanding of existing social inequalities in the society can be examined thoroughly. At the end, the paper would focus on ensuring that the nerve of the society can be understood and analyzed in tandem with the sociological concepts. Answer LO1 EXPLORE THE NATURE OF CONTEMPORARY In order to understand the entire society and finding the nature of the contemporary society, it may be very essential to understand the concept of Marxism. Marxism can be considered to be social and economic system that is based on economic and political theories propagated by Friedrich Engels and Karl Marx. On an overall basis, Marxism can be stated as theory in which the struggle of the classes has been of prime importance and the analysis of the same is considered with the social changes with the Western societies. It is considered to be antithesis to capitalism (McElroy 2002). It can be defined as a system of socialism in which the dominant feature can be said to be public ownership which is means to production, exchange and distribution. While on the other hand, in order to create some equality in the society, concepts such as Feminism were coined. Feminism can be defined as a theory in which the women and the contributions made by them can be valued. The theory is based on political, social and economical equality for women and giving equal status to them. It can be also defined as a movement or revolution which includes men and women who seek equality that has no boundaries (Barry and Yuill 2002). The changes in the society At the end of the Second World War in UK, society saw a paradigm shift. At the onset, there was an overall affluentisation or gentrification of the masses that can be referred as embourgoisement. In the fifties and up surging thru the seventies, the process operated for evaluating the incomes and also the reduction of extreme poverty or the visibility it gained in teh society. The trend combined with the loosening rigid class system seen in the older times. One of the prominent being, the British society when compared to the condition in 1940s, was relatively lacking deep class stratification. Majority of the British people have become middle class with the jobs, attitudes, and incomes or even classless. As compared to the people in the 1940s, the contemporary people of the UK have gained a finer kind of class and status, which is even unimaginable for the traditional Britons. This change can be termed as the affluentisation or embourgoisement of the society. During the 1950s, the stratification of the society that existed so visibly clear and strong among the distinct classes, started breaking up, which has in fact almost disintegrated in the contemporary world. In the modern world, such a stratification of the society is hardly visible, although traces of it could be seen in the higher strata of society, among rich business owners, bankers etc. This elite class of businessmen who with their money and power are running the country may exercise their influence in every sphere of the society however, their impact on the ordinary people of the society is not much perceivable. Over the years, the formal English has been swapped for the colloquial language with regional accents. Formal English, the language that was being spoken by most of the upper and middle class people during the 1950s are no longer the only acceptable form of communication. Further, the upper class accents have also gone out of fashion, with the public not appreciating it any more. Such changes in the society over the years are drawing the country towards a more proletariat set-up and are breaking the strata in the modern world. It has been seen that social class is a very complex issue and may involve wealth, status, culture employment and background. Also, defining a relationship between the ill health and class may be a little complex and may require a lot of inferences. Some of the issues that affect health can be attributed to social class as well. Some of the theories published have been conducted using the multilevel analysis that provides health inequalities in the households living in a particular area versus the one in the other places (Nazroo 2003). Some of the factors that have lead to the social inequalities can be studied further. One of the prime questions being the post hoc ergo propter hoc, the egg or the chicken, states if the low social class may have led to poor health or is it the other way round. The study that is related to the Black Caribbean population in UK patients has found higher rates of psychopathology which may be attributed to socioeconomic disadvantage. Also, some of the chronic diseases were present in their later life, as well into the adulthood and also after the careers were decided in tandem with the association with social class could be traced. Thus, trying to create some bridge by suggesting that healthy people would tend to rise by the social class has not been a feasible idea (Doran et al. 2004). Some of the proofs blame poverty, tattered or bad housing conditions, inadequate resources in educational and health provision coupled with higher risk occupations for lower strata of the society. Poverty can be one of the root causes for bad condition of health. It has also been seen that there has been a sharp decline in the religious faith in Britain in the last decade. On the other hand, it has been also seen that people in America have been much likely to become atheist. The notion of religion in the minds of people living in UK has seen a drastic shift in comparison to the past. It has been noticed that most of the people have become pragmatic. Wherein, religion has now become too personal than being social benefit. Some of the research fears that the UK has been deeply divided with regards to religion and may be more concerned about Islam in comparison to other faiths (Davey Smith et al. 1998). Also, some of the factions of the society also believe that religion hold more traditional attitudes towards with personal relationships and family. With the evolutions of new systems and technology, and with decreased interest in religion, people have opted to take refuge in technology for treating themselves and getting better medical facilities. With this, they have also tended towards understanding various factor that effect their health thus, only giving themselves a little room for chance (Burstrom et al. 2000). One of the other shifts seen in the past decade is increasing number of people opting to adopt children without marriage. It has been seen that in UK people have increasing to live as single-parent. Per the statistics released by Office for National Statistics stated that children in the UK are more likely to live with one parent in comparison to the year 1972 (Meltzer et al. 2000). At the same time, the fertility in women has seen a change as well wherein; late pregnancy or no child birth may shrink the young population in the country (Meltzer et al. 2000). Some of the government reports state the increasing number of depression and suicides has seen a rise with the human cost of Britain's economic downturn. The suicide rate among men was on the rise to reach from 16.8 per 100,000 in the year 2007 in comparison to 17.7 per 100,000 in the year 2008. On the other hand, suicide rate in women also rose from nearly 5 per 100,000 to 5.4 per 100,000 in the year 2008. It has been estimated that with economy becoming stable, the suicide rates may also decrease. Also, with newer technologies evolving and most of the diseases now being treated, the rate may see further decline (Turner and Lloyd 2004). Per experts, break through seen in the health is mostly dependent on economic, social, as well as political factors then on any innovation that happens in the field of health care. In most cases, and also true for countries like UK, most durable and striking improvements in health are more inclined towards the commitment to equity than being a privilege to the sector. Particularly in UK, the power for shaping the health care reforms has been resting with an agenda that was represented by neo-liberalism under the leadership of Thatcher. And contributions from many sectors with regards to income distribution, relative deprivation, employment of the population, were some of the central factors that helped in relating to class as well as health. Per some of the reports published in the past, it has been seen that an overhaul is needed in the field of social care in UK. With the proportion of people aging more than 65 has been on increase, the necessity for increasing the facilities is the need of the hour. With this, the analysis also permeates the fact that the demand for social service would bump with less taxpayers per to fund the program. LO2 Nationals in UK are now in a better condition than in the past, but a lot of work needs to be conducted to make the society far more balanced. Although, household income as well as educational attainment saw marked improvement but major gaps still persist. Also, it has been seen that a significant minority have been affected by a lack of material resources and inequality of health in the population witnessed a wide gap. The focus on the subject has been divided into six areas which are education, income, work, health, living standards and participation. As far as education is concerned, clear relationship can be seen with higher qualifications related to higher earnings also with the earnings premium for earning a degree can be particularly high. Acheson report has been able to highlight areas of health inequalities that has to be reduced and should be able to provide some direction for the health policies to be developed by Department of Health. The report has been able to focus on many areas, such as poverty which has disproportionate effect on kids. More benefits are being recommended women who are at the childbearing age, or expecting mothers, with children and aged populous who are not able to feed themselves due to inadequate resources. This report was instrumental in designing, implementing and well as directing significant changes in NHS Health policy. Research reports and several studies were published which elaborated on the influence and impact of Acheson report with regards to changes in the health care policy. Some of the features of Acheson report were focussed on social gradient as well as health inequalities that stated about high focus on health of the families who had children; every policy that had impact on the health should have been evaluated to understand the impact on health inequalities; Also, steps to reduce income inequalities and also improving the standards of living for the poor households (Haralambo and Hobban 2004). Black report was published in the year 1980 by Department of Health and Social Security, UK. This was focussed on health inequality which was chaired by Sir Douglas Black. It was brought to fore that inspite overall health improved ever since the introduction of welfare state widespread health inequalities still continued to batter the sections. Some of the factors for inequalities were with regards to economic inequality. Commissioning of the Black report happened in March 1977. This was done by David Ennals, who was Labour Secretary of State. It stressed the need for social inequalities in the health and the causes in the area of research were emphasized. Following this, the health variation programme which was a research programme that focussed on social determinants for health inequalities and funded by Economic and Social Research Council was undertaken between 1996 to 2001 this was followed by Acheson report in the year 1998. With this, the Labour Government also introduced the minimum wage and EU laid down rules for hours of work as well as holidays. Following this, workplace hygiene and health promotion was undertaken that included English Public Health White Paper. With this interest in wellbeing of people working was established with special focus on safety issues. The increase in the incomes of the rich people which is 10% of the population has been the major factor for contributing to growing inequality in UK. Per Institute for Fiscal Studies, the salary or wealth of top 10% were seen rising at a faster rate than the population ever since Labour came to power in the year 1997. Also, per the suggestion made by IFS the rising stock market in the year 2005 and 2007 could have boosted the income of the wealthy. The income level of individuals who are in the middle of the income distribution grew broadly at the same rate in comparison to another amongst those at the lower rate gaining a little more. On an overall basis, the gap among the bottom 10% as well as top 10% has seen a wide gap. Change in lifestyle has given rise to more health problems for people in UK, increasing number of cases of Cancer and AIDs in the nation has been seen in the past few years. That said the social changes and helped some of the diseases like Tuberculosis and others to see a downfall with evolved technology and medical facilities available. However, changing lifestyles in the children have led to increase in the deficiency of vitamin D and rise in the case of rickets, as per the reports provided by medical experts. These youngsters were spending time indoors with computers than spending time outside with friends (Barry and Yuill 2002). As per a report commissioned by the government, the Labour party has not been able to narrow the inequality gap, which has resulted in making the British society an unequal one even after the Labour party ruled for almost 13 years in the country. In fact, the National Equality Panel being set up in 2008 by Harriet Harman for investigating inequalities in the country, found that UK still had social class system and it was this system that determines the life of most people. The report further stated that despite the inequalities in earnings have become narrow, the inequality that was present during the 1980s still remains and for the people of the UK, the social background of a person still matters. For instance, if the children from poor families are found to be inattentive or unwilling to learn as compared to students from richer families, these students are never able to reach the standards as per their richer counterparts due to inequalities in the education system. LO3 A formal structure meant for the purpose of efficiency and specific needs, the health care system, it is so designed that it can adjust itself to the communities it serve to, said Schaefer in 2009. Functionalist, conflict, and interactionism are the three main sociological orientations, each of them effects the health care industry, hence they are going to be discussed. Each of them also has their own both positive and negative sides from socially class discrimination and their accessibility and stability (Haralambo and Hobban 2004). To study the industry’s major challenges and its survival are related to its terminology of functionalist. Schaefer (2009) pointed out the fact that personnel’s are effectively replaced by the health care industry, the newly recruited are trained, and important services are provided to its members of the community and the principles are preserved through strict rules and regulations and the purposes are met by motivating social changes and charitable characteristics. In the perspective of functionalistic it is also said that the stability of the society is also contributed by the health care industry. The basic protection against diseases, health practice awareness is also maintained and also looks after the wellness of the community. Greed, economic influence, unavailability to specific group, and prejudiced privilege that is provided to the insured patients, such issues are included in the conflict of health care system. This sector is increasingly becoming inaccessible as many of the clinics and the doctors are getting suppressed by the necessary paperwork that hinders them from jobs for the needed. Health insurance is introduced in America so that the people are able to get treated to the diseases and medical situations that cannot be met easily due to their high costs. According to a new study around 50.7 million Americans are not privately insured to health because of economic disturbance and employer based insurance plans by Greenstein (2010). Since the systems already have limited resources federal programs are made to provide the basic coverage to every sixth American. The situation leaves the uninsured with conditions like few choices, less care, long waiting conditions and more and more of frustrations within the poor communities. The idea behind is that marijuana cannot be controlled rather they can lead to more and more of problems than their settling, such points are made by many of the pro-legalization organizations. Such arguments are biased as they do not really think that marijuana is a good thing but this is just not getting away rather it can truly benefit to as a society (Wadsworth et al. 2004). The arguments include: If marijuana is legalized then the stress on the legal and criminal justice system can be reduced as the crimes related to marijuana related crimes will come down like for carrying small amounts for personal use. Government aided production marijuana can save lives if it is legalized as they will no longer be produced by the criminals and revenues and as well as more jobs can be generated and the revenue can be utilized for the purpose of other social programmers. Crime related to marijuana will reduce and at a point of time will be eliminated. The accessibility can be checked by deciding an age limit so that the youngsters cannot consume them to the time they get eligible for their consumption (Wadsworth et al. 2004). Arguments on the other side say legalization of marijuana can lead to more problems related to drugs. The arguments are that the employers cannot get a drug free environment at their work places as the employees drug tests will no longer exist. Other being, a message to the younger generations will be passed like drugs are acceptable. Marijuana will no longer be considered as a harmful and dangerous drug that can lead to mental and physical problems, and that will include other illicit drugs, health problems, it can also impair by cannabis while driving and this is more effective to them who use them before getting to the age of 15. Physicians will also lose control over the medical marijuana (Wadsworth et al. 2004). LIBERAL AND FEMINISM Feminism is not a unified philosophy. Many people call themselves feminists and they differ to each other on the terminology of feminism, here are some of the kinds: Individual emphasis on equality is liberal feminism. Society doesn’t need this major renovation under this philosophy but to make the women equal in the society the law needs few amendments and new opportunities have to open up. To see them as proofs, the liberal feminism the position of the women is considered where the men were in charge especially in the powerful positions. In most part of Europe liberal feminism is considered to be feminism (Shildrick 2004). It is claimed under feminism that biological differences doesn’t the matter and hence both women and men are equal to each other. The common humanity is replaced by the procreative differences. Since women and men are not different to each other hence they should be treated equally under the law. Women should be given the same opportunities, education and the equal legal rights as the men. Liberal feminism has a goal of equality among both men and women. The term undoing gender is used for this goal in today’s time. A parallel current goal is that the government also meet the need of the women and no discrimination is made (Barss 2000). Depression in women Due to relationship breakdowns, grief many of the generations of women are in crunch and have taken anti-depressants from 1 out of 3 women according to a study. More than 15 million women have gone through mental and physical trauma and are depressed to as twice more than that of men, says the study. Depression can make women go self-destructive and can also indulge themselves in drinking sexual promiscuity and might build a state of sorrow inside, was stated in a study by support group 51, formally the YMCA (Burt and Stein 2002). In march 1961 around 50 years ago many countries came together to fight against drug abuses and signed the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and made them swear they would ban both production and supply of drugs like cocaine, cannabis, opiates and other such drugs. Frequently many people have indulged themselves into drugs in the country. In Britain it is found that in 1960s the number of people who have tried an illegal drug were less than 5%, then reached to around 10% in the 1970s then to 15-20% in the 1980s and in 1995 around half of the population of the young people said that they have tried an illegal drug. This was the answer to Grange hill kids just say no campaign in the year 1986. The concept of patient and public involvement of the NHS service also appeared somewhere in the same time (Burt and Stein 2002). Opportunities of helping the local health service and design and provisions were given to community health councils in 1974 to 2003, patient and public involvement forums in 2003 to 2007 and overview scrutiny from 2003 to till date. Even though there are no formal functionaries for the local people, and the group to influence the planning for the social issues, the side have developed a habit of good service consumer ship. Significant opportunities are given to hold the NHS and local councils to account to the people with powerful links to control health and social cares. In UK is unitary hence most of the government activities are controlled by the central government, but in the regions of Scotland, Whales, and the northern Ireland the mechanism is a bit different. All of these regions have their both secretary of the state and the administrative departments in the central government itself and also the assembly and the executive in the central government ministries. The laws in existence are different in Scotland and Northern Ireland from that of the laws in England and Wales. The parliament of Scotland has more influence than that of the parliament of Wales and also there is a role for civil services for Scotland with social policy of its own rights. In Northern Ireland the administrative structure is different, both public housing and health board are managed by the Northern Ireland housing executive as they are the republic of Ireland (Miranda et al. 2003). Although, UK has seen a lot of changes in the past decade and numerous programs have been initiated to better the social context of health and social care in the country but the widening gaps has to be addressed at the earliest to irradiate some of the greatest issues like inequality of income, education and others. It has been seen that the funding gap has widened to reach £1bn in the last four years which has would create delay in emergency hospital admissions or delayed discharges and even longer waiting time. Also, with the spending curbs activated in the country, it would only support lesser older people in the homes. While, resources could be used to the optimal level, state funding and changes in the Government policy would only help improve the present situation. 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