Right Care Essential Reading: Unwarranted variation - update

Essential Reading is a series of reading lists on specific themes relevant to our Right Care programme themes. This reading list is an update (search dates Jan 2011 to Nov 2013) on the theme of Unwarranted Variation.

Read the update here.

Corruption, inequality and population perception of healthcare quality in Europe

"We found robust evidence for the impact of socio-demographic variables on the perception of quality of health care."

Corruption, inequality and population perception of healthcare quality in Europe
Z Nikoloski, E Mossialos
BMC Health services Research, 2013, 13:472

Read more here.

Reporting guidelines for systematic reviews with a focus on health equity

"Increased use of these reporting guidelines will help improve the reporting of effects on both inequities in health outcomes and health care use across gender, socioeconomic position, and other characteristics, both in systematic reviews and eventually primary research, thus contributing to the global agenda to improve health equity."

PRISMA-Equity 2012 Extension: reporting guidelines for systematic reviews with a focus on health equity
V Welch, M Petticrew, P Tugwell, D Moher, J O'Neill, E Waters, H White,
PLOS Med, 2012, 9(10): e1001333

Read more here.

A guide to commissioning for equality

"Good commissioning: improves health; reduces health inequalities; ensures high-quality service provision; and protects patients' dignity - all especially important given the current reforms proposed to the UK health service."

A guide to commissioning for equality
Royal College of Nursing
August 2012

Read more here.

How mental illness loses out in the NHS

"There is one massive inequality within the NHS: the way it treats mental illness as compared with physical illness."

How mental illness loses out in the NHS
Centre for Economic Performance
London School of Economics and Political Science
June 2012

Read more here.

Deprivation and death: variation in place and cause of death

"The report adds to the evidence base for commissioners and providers of end of life care to use in planning services and tackling inequalities."

Deprivation and death: variation in place and cause of death
National End of Life Care Programme
February 2012

Read more here.

Working for equity in health

"Despite the growing number of policy commitments to tackle inequities, overall improvements in health have been dogged by persistent and increasing inequalities."


Working for equity in health: the role of work, worklessness and social protection in health inequalities: context, situation analysis and evidence review
Health Action Partnership International, The Scottish Government
January 2012

The full report is available here and a summary is available here.