What have we learned since the Black Report?

A conference asking, “What have we learned since the Black Report?” will be held at the University of St Andrews today.

The Black Report was published in 1980 tracking the patterns of inequalities of health across Britain and made recommendations for health improvement. Many of the recommendations were not implemented but the discussions surrounding its finding continue to this day.

The event, organised by the Social Dimensions of Health Institute, a joint institute between the Universities of Dundee and St Andrews, will examine the content of the Black Report and explore a range of important issues relevant to the work of individuals from the inequalities field today.

For example, what changes in the cause and pattern of inequalities have occurred since 1980? What lessons have been learnt from both domestic and international policies on inequalities? And what are the likely future problems, obstacles and strategies? A range of national and international speakers will provide their own academic, health and political perspectives. The conference is relevant for public heath practitioners, academics and students with an interest in health inequalities.

Presenters will include – Paul Boyle, Professor of Health Geography at University of St Andrews and Founding Director of SDHI, Professor Hugh MacDougall, Dean of School of Medicine St Andrews, Danny Dorling, Professor of Quantitative Human Geography, University of Leeds, Dr Ray Earwicker, Health Inequalities Unit, Department of Health, Hilary Graham, Professor of Social Policy, Institute for Health Research, Lancaster University; Mike Kelly, Professor and Head of Research and Information at the Health Development Agency; Dr Richard Mitchell, Research Fellow, Research Unit – Health, Behaviour and Change, University of Edinburgh; Professor Iain Crombie, Professor and Head of Department of Public Health, University of Dundee; Dr James Dunn Inner City Health Research Unit, St Michael’s Hospital, Toronto; Graham Watt, Professor of General Practice, University of Glagow; Dr Erio Ziglio, Head of Investment for Health and Development, World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe and Phil Hanlon, Professor of Public Health, University of Glasgow.

The event will be held on Thursday 30 September and Friday 1 October in Parliament Hall, South Street, St Andrews.

NOTE TO EDITORS

Full agenda below.

A photocall of speakers (standing in front of a painting of Sir Douglas Black) will be held at 1pm tomorrow (Thursday), Parliament Hall, South Street, St Andrews.

To send a reporter/photographer, please contact Karen Munro, Research Manager, SDHI on 01382 348659 or 07890 935299 or Claire Grainger – contact details below.

DAY 1

1pm – Registration and Coffee 1.30pm – Introduction/welcome 1.45pm – Black – the man behind the report – Professor Hugh MacDougall, Dean, Bute Medical School, University of St Andrews 2pm – Its All In The Geography – health and changes to the map of British society since the Black Report – Professor Danny Dorling, Quantitative Human Geography, University of Leeds 2.40pm – Developments since the Black Report – the academic perspective – Dr Ray Earwicker, Department of Health 3.20pm Coffee 3.40pm – Black Across the Pond: A Canadian Perspective – Dr James Dunn Research Scientist/ Assistant Professor, Inner City Health Research Unit, Department of Geography, St Michael’s Hospital, University of Toronto 4.20pm – Public Health Policy on Inequalities: a Comparison of 14 Developed Countries – Professor Iain Crombie, Head of Department of Public Health, University of Dundee

7.00pm – Dinner 8.30pm – “Rude Comments!¿ – Graham Watt, Professor Of General Practice/Head Of Section, University of Glasgow

DAY 2

9am – Health Inequalities: Research Concepts and Policy Goals, Professor Hilary Graham Institute for Health Research, Lancaster University 9.40pm – Tackling the inequalities? A policy retrospective – Dr Richard Mitchell, Research Unit in Health, Behaviour and Change, University of Edinburgh 10.20am – Bridging the gap between evidence and policy: the role of the Health Development Agency – Professor Mike Kelly, Head of Research and Information Health Development Agency 11am – Coffee 11.20am – Reducing Health Inequalities: Lessons and Challenges from an International Perspective – Eric Ziglio, Head of Investment for Health and Development, WHO Regional Office for Europe 12.40pm – Is health in Scotland deteriorating and what should we do about it? – Professor Phil Hanlon, Professor of Public Health, University of Glasgow 1.20pm – Lunch 2.20pm – Discussion 3pm – Summary and Thanks – Professor Paul Boyle, Founding Director, SDHI

ENDS

Issued by Beattie Media On behalf of the University of St Andrews For more information, please contact Claire Grainger, Press Officer – 01334 462530, 07730 415 015 or [email protected]; Ref: press releases/blackreport View the latest University news at http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk