Presentation by Dr. Benjamin D. Hennig (University of Sheffield) at the British Medical Association & London Deanery seminar series ‘Metropolitan Medicine’, London, 2 July 2012. More at http://www.viewsoftheworld.net/?p=2370

1. A tale of two cities:
London’s Health Inequalities
BMA & London Deanery seminar series
„Metropolitan Medicine 2012‟
2 July 2012
Dr. Benjamin D. Hennig
University of Sheffield

2. “London is a special city,
London is incredibly diverse
and London has its own
unique health problems.”
(BMA seminar programme)
2 July 2012 – A tale of two cities: London‟s Health Inequalities – Benjamin D. Hennig, University of Sheffield – www.viewsoftheworld.net

3. A tale of two cities:
London’s Health Inequalities
Changing perspectives
I. Britain‟s place in the world
II. Health and place
III. Outlook: The fragmentation of society
2 July 2012 – A tale of two cities: London‟s Health Inequalities – Benjamin D. Hennig, University of Sheffield – www.viewsoftheworld.net

4. Britain’s place in the world
Part I
2 July 2012 – A tale of two cities: London‟s Health Inequalities – Benjamin D. Hennig, University of Sheffield – www.viewsoftheworld.net

5. Global Inequalities in Health
2 July 2012 – A tale of two cities: London‟s Health Inequalities – Benjamin D. Hennig, University of Sheffield – www.viewsoftheworld.net

6. The Human Shape of the UK
2 July 2012 – A tale of two cities: London‟s Health Inequalities – Benjamin D. Hennig, University of Sheffield – www.viewsoftheworld.net

7. The Constituencies that never were
Data source: European
Constituencies obtained from the
House of Commons Research
Paper 98/102
2 July 2012 – A tale of two cities: London‟s Health Inequalities – Benjamin D. Hennig, University of Sheffield – www.viewsoftheworld.net

8. Health and place
Part II
2 July 2012 – A tale of two cities: London‟s Health Inequalities – Benjamin D. Hennig, University of Sheffield – www.viewsoftheworld.net

9. All-cause mortality ratios
Notes for all following
mortality-ratio maps:
Age-sex standardized
mortality rate showing
deviation from England
and Wales national
average of 1.0
Data source: Mortality records and
population estimates calculated for “The
Population of the UK”, forthcoming book
published by Policy Press
2 July 2012 – A tale of two cities: London‟s Health Inequalities – Benjamin D. Hennig, University of Sheffield – www.viewsoftheworld.net

10. Heart attack
2 July 2012 – A tale of two cities: London‟s Health Inequalities – Benjamin D. Hennig, University of Sheffield – www.viewsoftheworld.net

11. Cerebrovascular disease
2 July 2012 – A tale of two cities: London‟s Health Inequalities – Benjamin D. Hennig, University of Sheffield – www.viewsoftheworld.net

12. HIV disease infections
2 July 2012 – A tale of two cities: London‟s Health Inequalities – Benjamin D. Hennig, University of Sheffield – www.viewsoftheworld.net

13. Tuberculosis
2 July 2012 – A tale of two cities: London‟s Health Inequalities – Benjamin D. Hennig, University of Sheffield – www.viewsoftheworld.net

14. Lung cancer
2 July 2012 – A tale of two cities: London‟s Health Inequalities – Benjamin D. Hennig, University of Sheffield – www.viewsoftheworld.net

15. Cervical cancer
2 July 2012 – A tale of two cities: London‟s Health Inequalities – Benjamin D. Hennig, University of Sheffield – www.viewsoftheworld.net

16. Skin cancer
2 July 2012 – A tale of two cities: London‟s Health Inequalities – Benjamin D. Hennig, University of Sheffield – www.viewsoftheworld.net

17. Mortality by hanging
2 July 2012 – A tale of two cities: London‟s Health Inequalities – Benjamin D. Hennig, University of Sheffield – www.viewsoftheworld.net

18. Proportion of the population
dying by the age of 60
Data source: Data source: A component of
the UNDP Human Poverty Index, see
Appendix in Seymour , J. (for UNED-UK)
(2001) Poverty in Plenty: A Human
Development Report for the UK. Northern
Ireland data from Denny et al (1999) Literacy
and Education in Ireland, The Economic and
Social Review, 30 (3): 215-226.
2 July 2012 – A tale of two cities: London‟s Health Inequalities – Benjamin D. Hennig, University of Sheffield – www.viewsoftheworld.net

19. Rates of death and people living on
below half average incomes
Data source: Seymour, J. (for UNED-UK) (2001) Poverty in Plenty: A Human Development Report for the UK
London: Earthscan Publications Ltd. (data included in the appendix)
Each point is a 1999 European parliamentary constituency in Britain
2 July 2012 – A tale of two cities: London‟s Health Inequalities – Benjamin D. Hennig, University of Sheffield – www.viewsoftheworld.net

20. Outlook
The Fragmentation of Society
Part III
2 July 2012 – A tale of two cities: London‟s Health Inequalities – Benjamin D. Hennig, University of Sheffield – www.viewsoftheworld.net

21. Conclusion
• It is helpful to look at the population of the UK with a
map based on that that population
• Chances of life – and death – can be shown on
such a map
• Such chances alter over time, across space and
are often influenced by social class
• Everybody dies, but some die too early, and there
are a wide variety of rare causes of death
• There are distinct geographical patterns to be seen
in premature mortality by cause of death
• It is far easier to live a long and healthy life if you are
free, especially free of others‟ orders

22. Conclusion
• London is unique in its degree of health inequalities
at largest scale in the United Kingdom
• London‟s position has to be seen within its place in
the United Kingdom
• Its fragmented patterns reflect the degree of
unequal chances in life in the country that reach
from birth to the when and how people are dying
• Tackling health inequalities is as much about
tackling access to healthcare as it is about
increasing life chances in other areas of life to
enable people to make their own choices

23. A Fragmented City
2 July 2012 – A tale of two cities: London‟s Health Inequalities – Benjamin D. Hennig, University of Sheffield – www.viewsoftheworld.net

24. Thanks for your attention!
b.hennig@worldmapper.org| http://www.viewsoftheworld.net/
This research is funded by the Trust for London