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Home » About us » Health Inequalities

Health Inequalities

What we are doing to address health inequalities across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough CCG

Health Inequalities - rainbow image with groups.png

Introducing the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Health inequalities Strategy

Tackling health inequalities is a key ambition of the CCG. COVID-19 has led to an increase in inequalities across England. For example, across England, there has been twice as high COVID and non COVID deaths in poorer areas recorded since the onset of the pandemic. The CCG has been taking decisive and continuous action to prevent a rapid downturn of health outcomes across different population groups which if left unchecked could potentially lead to a widening of the health gap and worsening health outcomes for people living in the most disadvantaged areas.
  • Inequalities can occur in health OUTCOMES and health CARE.
  • Health outcome inequalities are systematic, avoidable and unfair differences in health outcomes.
  • Health care inequalities are systematic, avoidable and unfair differences in the health care.
  • Inequalities in health outcomes arise from inequalities in social determinants of health, risk factors and health care access and provision.
  • Inequalities in health outcomes arise from inequalities in social determinants of health (eg. income and employment), risk factors (eg. smoking and obesity), health care (e.g. hypertension and diabetes treatment) and health outcomes (eg. early death due to heart disease).
  • The diagram below shows three main categories of populations, social groups or gradients in which inequality occurs.
Health Inequalities Groups
Health Inequality Groups

For instance, in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, some important health inequalities have arisen, here we examine 12 facts about health inequalities across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

Peterborough and Fenland are the most deprived areas across the CCG.

Drawing on the latest Index of Multiple Deprivation data (2019), Peterborough and Fenland remain the most deprived areas in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

  • Figure: Indices of Multiple Deprivation 2019: National Decile for Overall Deprivation by Lower Super Output Area (LSOA)
  • Source: Cambridge Insight 2019

 

[ Zoom ]
Health Inequalities Cambbridgeshire and Peterborough IMD 2019 Deciles

Health inequalities is a core component of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2019-24. The strategy sets out clear objectives to address the wider determinants of health and healthy lifestyles inequalities including:

  • Preventing homelessness and improving pathways into housing for vulnerable people.
  • Reducing inequalities in skills and economic outcomes across our area.
  • Reducing inequalities in heart disease and smoking.
  • Acting as a system to reduce health inequalities.

Specific Action being taken by the CCG

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough CCG have developed a Health inequalities Strategy, which reflects current issues aggravated by COVID-19  pandemic. The full strategy can be found here .

The Health inequalities strategy encompasses the following seven guiding principles:

  1. Explore the impact of decisions on health inequalities early in the decision-making process.
  2. Value staff through parity of recruitment, promotion and employment.
  3. Offer simple, hassle-free services.
  4. Partner with other organisations to take a place-based approach to address social determinants of health.
  5. Allocate health care resources proportionate to need.
  6. Consider actions at different stages of life.
  7. Harness the community benefits of the Social Value Act.

1. Working across the system to reduce health inequalities 

  • We have established a Health inequalities Board to monitor and drive action on health inequalities.
  • Promote awareness of the Guiding Principles and embed them in commissioning and delivering of services across all STP partners.
  • Increase the use of Health Inequality Impact Assessments (HIIA).
  • Address inequalities in workforce distribution.

2. Addressing inequalities through Needs-Based Commissioning for Outcomes

  • Allocate discretionary funding proportionate to need (Link to How to guide).
  • Allocate elective care based on need.

3. Addressing inequalities in cardiovascular mortality through targeted action on hypertension and diabetes 

  • Reduce inequalities in hypertension management in primary care.
  • Reduce inequalities in diabetes care in primary care.

Further information on health inequalities:

  1. Public Health England 
  2. Kings Fund

If you would like more information please contact:

  • Joao Rocha - Health Inequality Officer (Health Inequality Team, CCG) 
31/08/2021