The gap between the health of the rich and poor is as wide as it has ever been since records began and is widening. We are witnessing the highest relative inequality recorded since 1921.
In the area of child poverty, rates peaked in the early 1990s but having fallen, absolute and relative child poverty are forecast to be 23% and 24% by 2020/21 compared to targets of 5% and 10% set out in the Child Poverty Act (2010) and passed with cross party support.
Further, in a speech last year, Barry Quirk demonstrated that in previous recessions, consumption and income have grown over a five-year period from the pre-recession peak. However, five years on from the current recession consumption and income remain below the pre-recession peak.
The likely outcome is widening inequalities in health as the impact of the recession bears down on the health of a generation born and brought up in the shadow of this recession.
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