A spatial analysis of health status in Britain, 1991–2011

Using Census-derived data for consistent spatial units, this paper explores how the population of Britain in 1991, 2001 and 2011 was spatially structured by self-reported health including exploring the trajectories of change. This paper uses consistent small area units to examine the changing spatial structure of census-derived Limiting, Long-Term Illness (LLTI) in Britain over the twenty year period and utilises the 2011 Office for National Statistics Output Area Classification (OAC) as a geodemographic indicator. The results allow the geography of change to be captured, highlighting how health is inextricably linked to geography, demonstrating quantitatively a complex, yet distinctive, spatial organisation of health inequalities within Britain. Overall decreasing unevenness values, coupled with increased positive spatial association suggests that neighbouring areas have become more similar over time – the distinction between areas characterised by poor health or by good health is decreasing. •Health inequalities are distinctively spatially organised within Britain.•Britain is now more visibly divided by its geography of long-term illness.•Distinct spatial concentrations of good and poor health correspond with area type.