Joined-up solutions to address health inequalities: Analysing policy, process and resource streams

New Labour argues that its 'new NHS' will achieve the traditional goal of f airness using the modern NHS means of partnership and co-operation. The aut hors examine the issue of reducing inequalities in health using the framewo rk of policy, process and resource streams. While the policy stream is a li ttle muddy, the process and resource streams and more opaque. In particular , there are concerns about technical and political feasibility, and little apparent attention to issues of opportunity costs and trade-offs. The low p riority given to health inequalities is reflected in the resource stream, w here there are also issues of accountability and budgetary slack. The autho rs argue that the limited confluence of the streams is unlikely to lead to a sea-change in the level of health inequalities.