Health Inequalities

Health inequalities mean that not everyone has the same chance to be healthy. Some people are healthier than others because of where they live, how much money they have, access to education and information, . This page will explain what health inequalities are and why they matter.

Why Do Health Inequalities Matter?

Health inequalities are important because they can affect people’s lives in many ways. They can lead to shorter lifespans, more sickness, and less quality of life for those who are less healthy. They can also affect families and communities, creating a cycle where some groups continue to struggle with poor health while others thrive.

Causes of Health Inequalities

Access to health and social care services

Not everyone has the same access to health and social care services. Some people may live further from services, they may not know what types of services are available to them, and many other reasons.

Discrimination

Discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, or other factors (known as protected characteristics) can lead to poorer health for those who experience it. This can happen through unequal treatment in healthcare or limited opportunities for good jobs and education.

Health behaviours

Our behaviours that affect our health and wellbeing such as:

smoking,
physical activity,
alcohol
diet

Social Determinants

This could be things that are individual to us such as:

age,
gender,
ethnicity,
disability.

Other factors that can impact health and wellbeing such as:

Housing
Education
Employment
Income
Social Support

Ways to reduce health inequalities

Health inequalities are a problem with many different causes and possible solutions, but there are things we can do to make things better and reduce inequalities.

Supporting Communities

Communities can be supported and support each other to improve health for everyone. This requires organisations, services, local authorities, NHS, businesses and people living in the community to work together. This could be working together to share information, strengths and resources they already have, understand gaps, issues and weaknesses in the community as well as improve social connections across the whole community.

Community Health Champions help make sure people in their local community are able to find, understand, and use health and wellbeing information, support, and services. There are different types of community health champions and they support people by:

sharing health messages, information and resources to people
signposting people to the right services
taking part in community events, or campaigns
identifying barriers to peoples good health and wellbeing in a group or area of their local community

Read more on InformationNOW about Getting involved in your local community

Get involved in research and share experiences

There are ways you can share your experience, speak up about health inequalities and be part of research about health inequalities. By doing this you can help improve health and social care services. Having a wide range of people from different communities and backgrounds involved helps health services consider how inequalities affect the use of their services.

Newcastle Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) helps Newcastle Council, Public Health department, Education, Research, VCSE, Housing and other sectors to use research and data to inform their decision making, planning and improvement of services. The HDRC helps these partners to work together in reducing health inequalities.

Read more on InformationNOW about Having your say about health and care services

Providing Equal Access to Healthcare

Everyone should have access to healthcare when they need it. This means making sure doctors, hospitals, and clinics are available in all communities. Where people live can affect their access to healthcare as there may not be the right health services nearby, they may not be able to travel or have few transport options. Places should be accessible to people with disabilities, long term health conditions, mental health conditions and others. Places should always consider parking, toilets, signage, step free access, hearing loops and quiet spaces at their venue.

Improving health literacy and education

Health literacy means having the skills, knowledge and confidence to access, use and understand health and social care information or services. Services can improve health literacy by having information in plain English and in different accessible formats such as Easy read, Braille, translated into other languages and use of pictures and audio. Education is important for good health. Having resources and programs to teach people as early as possible about healthy habits, like eating well, exercising and self care can help them live healthier lives.

Newcastle Support Directory is the information website for children, families and children with Special Educational Needs in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Read more on InformationNOW about H elping asylum seekers and refugees to access health services

Challenging discrimination

Communities and organizations can work together to fight discrimination and create equal opportunities for everyone. This includes awareness of types of discrimination and the law (such as the Equality Act 2010), designing services that include everyone and challenging discrimination when you see it happening.

Connected Voice Haref provide Cultural Competency training to health, social care and VCSE frontline workers in Newcastle. The sessions focus on how to connect with and deliver effective services to people from any cultural background.

Read more on InformationNOW about Racial Discrimination, Hate crimes, Age discrimination, LGBTQIA+ rights, or disability rights,

Useful Information

GOV.UK’s Fingertips is a large public health data collection website. It gives health inequality information about your local area on Child obesity, NHS Health Checks, Tobacco control, Alcohol treatment, Drug treatment, Best start in life, Sexual and reproductive health, Air Quality.

Core 20PLUS5 is a national NHS England approach to support the reduction of health inequalities nationally and locally. There is a Core20 plus5 approach for children and young people and a Core20 plus5 approach for adults

The Core 20 is The most deprived 20% of the national population as identified by the national Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD). PLUS are groups of people that may be socially excluded in their local area, (this will be different in different areas of England) such as people experiencing homelessness, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, people with a learning disability. 5 is the 5 clinical areas that need national improvement, for adults these are Maternity, Sever mental illness, Chronic respiratory disease, Early cancer diagnosis

The Local Government Association have a Health inequalities hub on their website with resources and case studies from councils across the UK.

InformationNOW has information articles that cover health inequalities such as:

Last updated: March 4, 2024