Dear Mr Lansley,
I note from your comments below to The Guardian on Monday 29th November that you intend helping marginalised groups with chronic health problems. May I bring to your attention and Professor Field’s the large (1.5million) marginalised group of people who have become addicted to and damaged by prescribed benzodiazepine drugs through no fault of their own. Here are some of the health inequalities they suffer from:
1. Exclusion from appropriate medical treatment by the Department of Health.
2. Failure to treat or recognise benzodiazepine post-withdrawal syndrome by the Department of Health.
3. Non-recognition of the illness of Involuntary Tranquilliser Addiction or post-withdrawal syndrome in processing benefit claims.(Department of Work and Pensions)
4. Failure to provide back to work support or rehabilitation for tranquilliser addicts and ex-addicts, particularly in the arrangements introduced under the Welfare Reform Bill.(DWP)
5. Failure to collect statistics on Involuntary Tranquiliser Addiction by the Department of Health and the Department of Work and Pensions.
Regards
John Perrott
“The coalition government is committed to tackling health inequalities,” said Lansley. “We believe we have a responsibility to look after the most vulnerable.
The health secretary, Andrew Lansley, is setting up a health inclusion board to tackle chronic health problems among marginalised groups,
He has recruited one of the UK’s leading doctors, Prof Steve Field, who until two weeks ago was chair of the Royal College of GPs, to lead the new body of expert advisers. Its members – doctors, nurses, charities and specialist in reducing health inequalities – will assess whether the NHS is doing enough to increase access to services for such groups and reduce the gaps between their quality of health and that of other members of the population.
Field said: “Andrew Lansley wants to make a big difference in health inequalities and to make sure that the most disadvantaged in society get the healthcare they need and deserve. The board will champion the cause of people who are vulnerable and socially excluded, such as the homeless and street sex workers.”