Should we stop calling the determinants of health the determinants
Sort of frames it as subservient to something else?
Only a thought
Wisdom accepted .....

Was really interesting set of responses to this

Got me thinking about why I asked
I wasnt actually sure. Just some ill formed thoughts

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I guess we generally say "wider determinants of health" which sort of implies that those "wider determinants" are somehow subservient and secondary to the really important stuff ... the "core issues"

3/

Which of course from a clinical perspective and a health care system perspective - of course it is
Cant say .... "sorry cant provide good cancer care because I've got to sort out housing circumstances"

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But it sort of cements "health" as something that's located only in the health care system
And the "wider determinants" seem a bit distant and fluffy
They aren't.
Theres a whole host of tractible and crunchy issues in each
And they all intersect and interact

5/

So whilst theres nothing inherently wrong with the term "wider determinants" it sort of locates the debate about those things in a context of health care system looking out

I'm not sure that's right way

6/

I know that's all a bit arcane!

And I'm still not 100% sure where I'm going with it

But language does matter
Locating something in "health" (IMO) dictates who sees it as "their issue" and who owns it

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