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(CNN) –
New research shows that cases of diseases more commonly badociated with the Victorian era are increasing in the United Kingdom.
Since 2010, hospital visits for scarlet fever, malnutrition, whooping cough and gout have increased by 3,000 per year, an increase of 52%.
"It is very worrying that these conditions, badociated with a bygone era, seem to be about to be reborn," said Helen Donovan, professional public health officer at the Royal College of Nursing.
Data from the UK National Health Service show that diagnoses of scarlet fever, the leading cause of infant mortality in the early 1900s, increased from 429 in 2010/11 to 1,321 in 2017/18, an increase of 208%.
Pertussis was virtually eliminated in the UK following a national vaccination program in the 1950s, but hospital admissions increased by 59% between 2010 and 2018.
During the same period, hospitalizations for malnutrition and gout also increased by 54% and 38% respectively.
The figures were published by the opposition Labor Party after the researchers badyzed the NHS data.
"Dickensian diseases are on the rise today in Britain," said in a statement, Jonathan Ashworth, deputy of the US Secretary of State for Health and Social Affairs.
Ashworth has blamed development on government cuts, known as austerity.
"The overwhelming truth is that austerity makes our society sicker," he said. "It means the poor are dying younger."
Donovan, who is an independent expert, also said that cuts in government spending were partly to blame.
"There are many reasons for this, but one must not forget either the effect of the sustained reduction in public health budgets of local authorities, which has led to the reduction of screening, prevention and treatment services. of protection against illness, and promotion of good hygiene. "she says.
Donovan has partnered with Ashworth to criticize the effects of these cuts.
"As a result, those at risk of illness that we thought would be in the past will continue to fall through the cracks," she said. "The government should accept its responsibility with regard to the failure of the most vulnerable in our society and commit to investing appropriately in essential public health services."
In the British health system, access to medical services is supposed to be universal, but regional variations in life expectancy revealed by research suggest that this is not the case.
"We are facing a national emergency as growing health inequities ravage the country," Ashworth said.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs said: "We are determined to give everyone five more years of healthy and independent living by 2035 and to reduce the gap between the rich and the poor. the poor.We have already achieved record record progress and smoking rates at the lowest of all time.
"We are committed to ensuring that everyone receives the same quality health care regardless of where they live, which is why our long-term plan for the NHS focuses on the fight against disease." inequalities in health. "
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