Our work to address inequalities in health
Good health is something we want for all our patients, staff and our local communities.
While we may be looking after you for medical reasons, we will always look at your health as a whole and consider the many factors, often referred to as social determinants of health.
These include:
- Who you are
- Your age
- Your gender
- Your genetics
- Your behaviours (smoking, physical activity, alcohol, diet, etc.)
Your health can also be influenced by where you were born and grew up, your education, where you live and the work you do.
These factors can result in health inequalities which simply means a difference in how your health is affected and how you access and experience services.
Our trust works to understand the complex health needs of our communities so that we can aim to meet needs, prioritise areas for development, to improve population health and reduce health inequalities.
Health Inequalities Programme Board
Our Health Inequalities Programme Board helps to improve the health of our patients and staff through addressing disparities in illness and the factors that lead to poor health.
The aims of the board are to:
- Document all the health inequalities work taking place across the Trust
- Share the good practice with our teams and patients
- Empower and enable our staff teams to identify and address inequalities
- Supporting services to understand diverse patient needs
- Coordinate, champion and support implementation of interventions to reduce inequalities
- Evaluate and share learning with our staff teams and the wider healthcare system
Our Health Inequalities Programme Board includes:
- Leaders from across the trust
- Local partners and stakeholders including local health authorities
- Primary care
- Local education providers and voluntary community sector representatives
Our work so far
Health Inequalities Programme Board Annual Reports
Health Inequality; Projects
Health Inequality; Data & Intelligence
Health Inequality; Publications & Awards
Community Promise
This work forms part of Our Community Promise - our pledge to focus on all the ways in which we can improve peoples lives.
The promise is based on six key pillars, which relate to the wider factors that fuel health inequalities:
- Poverty
- Employment
- Education
- Economy
- Environment
- Wellbeing
Find out more about the promise here.