Why reducing health inequalities is a moral duty not an election gimmick
If you live in the North East you are more likely to have a shorter lifespan, and to spend more of your shorter life in poor health than elsewhere in England.
As we move towards a General Election, Healthworks is calling for long term change. We want all political parties to clearly set out their plans for tackling avoidable and unfair health inequalities once and for all.
It is shocking that in 2024 there continues to be differences in health outcomes for different groups of people. People living in areas of high deprivation, those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities and certain groups, for example the homeless, are most at risk.
Healthworks Chief Executive Paul Court explains how our services contribute to reducing health inequalities in the North East:
Healthworks believes that everyone should have the same opportunity to live in good health. As an organisation we are committed to reducing health inequality and supporting people to overcome challenges and barriers to good health.
Together with partners across public health and the NHS, we develop new initiatives and services to meet emerging need, and support people living in poverty in our region.
We deliver a range of projects, activities and interventions which support people of all ages to lead a healthier life. These include increasing physical activity and improving mobility, healthy eating, smoking cessation and managing diabetes and other long-term conditions.
These programmes are largely delivered in areas where there is a greater dependence on health, social care, and other services due to factors including low income, unemployment, lack of education, poor housing and child poverty.
One of our key areas of focus is supporting the NHS by delivering a number of pre-habilitiation and rehabilitation programmes to help people experiencing conditions including cardiovascular disease – one of the key five areas of clinical focus outlined in the Core20PLUS5 approach.
The case for tackling health inequalities is clear and overwhelming, yet successive Governments attempts to do so in recent decades have failed many of our most vulnerable and disadvantaged people.
This simply cannot continue. Enough is enough!
Explore how you can get involved in our work right now and help us make a difference to health and wellbeing outcomes for local people.
