Marmot Review Healthcare Assignment Example: 2010 vs 2020 Framework
If you are studying a UK healthcare degree, you will inevitably have to write about the Marmot Review. Most students treat this assignment like a history lesson, simply listing Sir Michael Marmot’s six policy objectives from 2010. This is the fastest way to get a 2:2.
University markers do not want a summary. To achieve a First-Class grade, you must critically evaluate the implementation gap between the optimism of the 2010 report and the stark realities exposed in the 2020 "10 Years On" review. Below is a complete structural blueprint to help nursing and public health students map out a high-scoring, critical essay.
Table of Contents
Why the Marmot Review is the "Gold Standard" for UK Healthcare Assignments
The Marmot Review is foundational because it shifted the blame for poor health away from individual choices (like smoking or diet) and onto the "social determinants of health" (housing, income, education). Whether you are writing a social work assignment or a clinical case study, applying Marmot demonstrates to your lecturer that you understand the root causes of why a patient is repeatedly admitted to your ward.
The 2010 vs 2020 Marmot Blueprint (How to Structure Your Essay)
Section 1: Defining the Social Gradient in Health
Start your essay by defining the "social gradient." Explain that health inequalities are not just about the poorest vs. the richest. The gradient shows that at every step down the socio-economic ladder, health outcomes worsen. Use local UK statistics here to ground your definition.
Section 2: The 2010 Baseline (The Original Objectives)
Briefly outline the core mandate of the 2010 report, specifically focusing on the goal to "give every child the best start in life." Do not spend more than a paragraph on this. You are establishing the baseline so you can critically tear it apart in the next section.
Section 3: The 2020 Reality Check ("10 Years On")
This is where you earn your marks. The 2020 report revealed that life expectancy in England had stalled for the first time in 100 years. You must critically evaluate why. Discuss the impact of a decade of austerity measures, cuts to local council funding, and the defunding of Sure Start children's centres. If you are taking a public health epidemiology module, analyse the widening health gap between the North and South of England.
"Clinical educators look for the connection between data and the patient. Do not just state that housing got worse in 2020. Tell me how poor housing policies directly correlate to the influx of paediatric asthma admissions you are seeing during your winter clinical placements."
Section 4: Clinical Application
Translate the national policy failure into clinical reality. How do the social determinants identified by Marmot impact your specific field? For example, how does income deprivation limit a patient's ability to engage with a diabetes management plan or afford transport to specialist appointments?
Exemplar Snippet: Descriptive vs. Critical Writing on Marmot
Understanding the difference between repeating facts and applying critical analysis is crucial. Review this comparison:
"In 2010, the Marmot Review suggested six objectives to reduce health inequalities. However, the 2020 report showed that health inequalities had actually increased and life expectancy stopped improving for the poorest areas."
"Despite the preventative framework established by Marmot in 2010, the 2020 '10 Years On' review highlights a severe implementation failure. A decade of austerity drastically reduced local authority funding for social care and early years interventions, compounding the social gradient and directly contributing to the stalling of life expectancy in deprived regions."
Academic Tip: How to Cite the 2010 & 2020 Marmot Reviews
Students frequently lose marks formatting independent reports. Use these exact references for your bibliography (assuming standard Harvard style):
- 2010 Report: Marmot, M., Allen, J., Goldblatt, P., Boyce, T., McNeish, D., Grady, M. and Geddes, I. (2010). Fair Society, Healthy Lives: The Marmot Review. London: Institute of Health Equity.
- 2020 Report: Marmot, M., Allen, J., Boyce, T., Goldblatt, P. and Morrison, J. (2020). Health Equity in England: The Marmot Review 10 Years On. London: Institute of Health Equity.
Need to check your citations? Run your draft through a free referencing audit to ensure perfect formatting.
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Contact our 24/7 Global Support DeskFrequently Asked Questions
What are the 6 principles of the Marmot Review (2010)?
The six core objectives are: giving every child the best start in life; enabling all children and adults to maximize their capabilities; creating fair employment and good work for all; ensuring a healthy standard of living for all; creating healthy and sustainable places; and strengthening the role of ill-health prevention.
What is the main difference between the 2010 and 2020 Marmot Reviews?
The 2010 review provided a roadmap for reducing health inequalities. The 2020 review ("10 Years On") is essentially an audit of that roadmap. The 2020 report revealed that health inequalities had actually worsened, largely attributing this to a decade of austerity policies and funding cuts to local councils.
How do I apply the Marmot Review to a nursing essay?
Do not just summarize the report. Apply the concept of the "social gradient" to your patient's environment. For example, discuss how a patient's low income or poor housing conditions (identified in Marmot) acts as a barrier to them following post-discharge care advice, making them vulnerable to hospital readmission.