There is a social segregation in our society and every community and it is a well known fact for everybody though we all try to avoid this sad truth. The class system that is present in society even though unofficially, leads to the social segregation and discrimination in all aspects of our life. In the following article I am going to discuss if there is any class segregation in health care system and what impact and consequences it has.



Great Britain has an advanced welfare system in the terms of health care and social security. The NHS began in the 1940’s and was built on the principle that health care should be freely and widely available to all. The health service is free at source. Anyone can see a doctor, visit a hospital and receive treatment. Although GP services and hospital care remain free, charges are levied for eye care, dental care and prescriptions. Despite the fact that there is an apparent availability of health care services there are still many inequalities in the health of different groups in society.

Much of the evidence on social differences in health in Britain is measured in terms of social or occupational class. Occupation is recorded in the census, on birth and death certificates and on some, but not all health records. From that the Registrar General classifies people into social classes. Men and single women are classified by their own occupation and children by the occupation of the head of the household. Married women are classified by their husband’s occupation, though their own occupation is available for analysis and is used in some studies.

Although this classification is based on employment it is important to realise that it is not just a measure of working conditions. The intention is to group together people with similar living standards and way of life indicated by their occupation. When the scale was first devised it was intended to reflect both wealth and poverty and the culture associated with each class. In 2001 the scale was updated to include eight social classes.

Many people believe that health and illness are largely determined by factors under an individual’s control, such as diet, exercise and sexual behaviour. All these things play an important role in health but there are many other important factors. Other influences on our health include poverty, social exclusion, employment, housing, education and environment.

In modern Britain poverty still exists and significant groups of the population are living in poverty. People who are poor are prevented from participating in normal day to day activities of the society in which they live; in effect they are socially excluded.

Poor people in rented accommodation tend to live in unhealthy neighbourhoods, have poorer physical health, and be more socially excluded than home owners. Poor home owners, on the other hand, tend to suffer more from physical accommodation problems and poor mental health. Using the Poverty and Social Exclusion Survey, approach to the measurement of poverty, it is estimated that 25% of the adult population of Britain is poor. Amongst outright owners, the figure is 15%, and for people with a mortgage, 17%. In the private rented sector, over one third is defined as poor, and in the social rented sector, 61%.