Firstly let me declare that IANAGP, we are Year 2000 consultants and
commentators with a special interest in health and small/medium sized business.
I am preparing a short paper on the health consequences of economic
recession, but having extensively search the Net I can find very few useful
sources of past surveys or papers.
My gut feel and remembrances through recessions from the 1960s onwards is
that there _is_ a correlation between health and recession, not just from
the point of view of lower living standards = lower health standards but
also increases in depression etc and subsequently more visits to GPs for
treatment and succour. In other words my postulation is that economic
recession increases the case load of GPs and drugs and treatments prescribed
significantly. The burden on the Health Service increases during local,
regional, national or international recessions.
Does anyone recall seeing any reports or papers which support this
assumption? I know it is a pretty obvious assumption but I'm looking for
evidence as I don't want to write a paper, no matter how small, solely based
on conjecture.
Finally can I just say as a very low key defence of non-direct-health
members of this excellent list that I am fully aware of the fact that we can
be struck off this list for unethical behaviour at any time. Any commercial
member who alienates his marketplace needs a brain transplant. I'm sure all
of us in this position realise this and only try to offer assistance and
gain understanding of our customers.
Yours, glad to be here,
Graham
"If you get their heads out of the sand don't forget to get them to brush
the sand out of their eyes! Awareness DOESN'T equal understanding."
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Graham P P Ride, Cybermetrix Ltd.
NEW! - Year 2000 Information Service on
<http://www.cybermetrix.co.uk/plusinfo.html>
Tel +44 (0)161 439 0480 - Fax +44 (0)161 439 1912
Year 2000 services to Health & SMEs & maximising the benefits of the Internet
http://www.cybermetrix.co.uk
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