Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
pursue commercialization of their new technical products, such as their SlingSerter
and RoboNurse for lifting patients (TRI). They are also in the forefront of research
in providing assistance to people with cognitive impairment through smart alert
systems to remind people to turn-off stoves and taps, and how and when to complete
many regular routines, through sensing devices; in addition, like the Japanese, they
are also building robots to help with these tasks. Such devices also provide help
and relief to carers, but enable people to live longer in their homes rather than be-
ing forced into homes for the aged or hospitals, which dramatically increase costs
of care.
Although there are clear business opportunities for companies to provide the
hardware and software for such new monitoring systems, there is always the danger
of intruding on personal privacy. However, municipal bureaucrats are often wary of
getting involved since they have their functions to perform and the public benefits
of some programmes may not be easy to evaluate. Nevertheless, the new electronic
technologies can be used to monitor health more effectively than in the past and
more private company involvement is not only possible, but needed in Healthy City
initiatives so long as personal privacy is not compromised.
13.6.6
Attacking Spatial Health Inequalities
In the last decade of the twentieth century national governments of developed coun-
tries, often stimulated by the WHO Healthy Cities programme, started to emphasize
policies that compel, not simply advise, all levels of government and their agencies
to help reduce health inequalities, especially in cities. For example, in London it
led to the creation of a London Health Commission composed of representatives
from the various boroughs and organizations such as the NHS, Transport and the
local Development Agency (LHC
2008
). This commission was designed to ensure
that health concerns are involved in all the tasks of the Greater London Author-
ity and the 33 boroughs within it that have statutory authority for a wide range of
services and functions. Previously, local governments and the Primary Care Trusts
of the NHS did not consider the health impacts of their various planning and de-
velopment projects. This change meant there was now a statutory obligation for
the mayor of London to act to reduce the inequalities. The Health Commission
developed a strategy called
Living Well in London
that ensures that investments
in housing and public spaces are made to create an environment that helps people
make more healthy choices and promotes links between the many agencies—from
housing, to police, social services and organizations dealing with drug and alcohol
abuse and homelessness—that may help to improve the determinants of health. In
some deprived areas new multi-functional facilities have been developed, such as
The Hub in Canning Town, a large building that houses a health centre with doc-
tors and nurses as well as a pharmacy, with many other services indirectly linked
to health and community improvement, such as a training centre, an internet caf￩,
community meeting rooms, and a safety group etc. In other boroughs of London
