​The Roles of the Health Inequalities Research Team at Santa Maria College(SMC)

Professor Dr Daniella Kingsley-Godwin and the Health Inequalities Research Team at Santa Maria College(SMC)

Introduction

Health inequalities are unfair and avoidable differences in health across the population, and between different groups within society. These include how long people are likely to live, the health conditions they may experience and the care that is available to them. The aim of the Inequality in Health Research Team is to investigate the reasons for health inequalities and to find solutions on how to tackle the problems and produce efficient access to healthcare for all people globally.

Determinants of Health and the Problems of Access to Healthcare

The findings of the Team’s research projects showed that the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age can impact their health and wellbeing. These are sometimes referred to as wider determinants of health.

It was also found that wider determinants of health are often interlinked. For example, someone who is unemployed may be more likely to live in poorer quality housing with less access to green space and less access to fresh, healthy food. The Team’s observations also showed that some groups and communities are more likely to experience poorer health than the general population. These groups are also more likely to experience challenges in accessing care.

The results of the investigations showed that the reasons for this are complex and include:

• the availability of services in their local area

• service opening times

• access to transport

• access to childcare

• language (spoken and written)

• literacy

• poor experiences in the past

• misinformation

• fear

It was further found that people living in areas of high deprivation, those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities and those from inclusion health group, for example the homeless, are most at risk of experiencing these inequalities.

Recommendations for Better Access to Healthcare

From 2020, it was revealed that COVID-19 has shone a harsh light on some of the health and wider inequalities that persist in our society.  Guidance issued by NHS England in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, set out eight urgent actions  for tackling health inequalities, which are as follows:

1. Protect the vulnerable: Safeguard individuals at the highest risk from COVID-19 through targeted interventions.

2. Restore services inclusively: Ensure that the resumption of standard healthcare proactively reaches those in deprived areas and marginalized groups.

3. Mitigate digital exclusion: Develop online and digital care pathways in a way that doesn't leave vulnerable or disconnected populations behind.

4. Accelerate preventative programs: Proactively engage at-risk individuals with preventative health measures.

5. Support mental health: Provide specific, targeted support for individuals experiencing mental ill-health.

6. Strengthen accountability: Ensure clear leadership and responsibility for reducing health inequalities at all organizational levels.

7. Improve datasets: Collect more complete, timely, and granular data (such as ethnicity and deprivation status) to better understand patient outcomes.

8. Collaborate locally: Work in strong partnership with local authorities, voluntary organizations, and community groups to plan and deliver care.

These actions form the foundational blueprint for achieving fair, accessible, and high-quality care, and are continually supported by the NHS England Equality Hub and broader health policies.

This was later refined to five key priority areas, which underpin the work of the National Healthcare Inequalities Improvement Programme.

Thus, the most prominent and actionable framework in the UK is the NHS Core20PLUS5 strategy, which outlines five key clinical priorities aimed at reducing healthcare inequalities.

The NHS Core20PLUS5 framework focuses on five key clinical priorities to reduce healthcare inequalities: maternity care, severe mental illness monitoring, chronic respiratory disease treatment, early cancer diagnosis, and hypertension case-finding.

Conclusions

Tackling health inequalities requires a comprehensive approach that addresses the root causes of disparity (the social determinants of health) rather than just treating symptoms. Effective strategies focus on equitable resource allocation, community empowerment, cross-sector collaboration, and proactive, inclusive preventative healthcare.

For more information about the Public Health and Inequalities in Health Research Team, please contact: info@santamariacollege.org.uk