Health inequity is not the product of individual behaviour, but of policy design. Drawing on a comprehensive synthesis of recent evidence, this blog examines why public policies that reshape social and material conditions are more likely to reduce health inequities than those that rely heavily on individual agency, and how a policy-focused framework can help anticipate these effects.
As the NHS shifts care closer to home, neighbourhood health is being positioned as a key lever for reducing inequalities. But will it deliver? In the first blog of our three-part series, we explore what the evidence says about co-located services, Integrated Neighbourhood Teams and community health workers — and what it will take for this agenda to genuinely narrow the gap.
Introducing two new practical resources to explain how artificial intelligence can support evidence synthesis
In this guest blog, Professor Andrea Williamson reflects on her previous research into repeated missed healthcare appointments, which links high non-attendance to poorer health outcomes and social disadvantage. Building on this work, she introduces a new approach to appointment letters aimed at better supporting patients and improving engagement with services.
Discover what works to reduce health inequalities with our comprehensive evidence pack, built around four key themes for equity in health and care. Explore proven principles, practical recommendations, and real-world examples to guide action.
In the 10 Year Health Plan there are notable wins for health inequalities advocates, especially in funding and tackling smoking and obesity, but there are risks of inadvertently increasing inequalities in use of digital tools and widening clinical variation. There are also missed opportunities to work cross-government, provide culturally competent care, and leverage the vast resources of the health and care system to help the poorest areas.
In this powerful personal reflection, HEEC Citizen Panel member Marianne Rodie explores how fatphobia pervades health care, leading to harmful assumptions, misdiagnoses, and discrimination against fat patients. She calls for a shift toward compassionate, bias-free care that prioritises individual health needs over body size.
As the NHS looks ahead to the next decade, what truly matters to the people who rely on it every day? This blog shares reflections from the Health Equity Evidence Centre’s Citizen Panel, offering honest, hopeful perspectives on how the NHS can evolve to meet future challenges with compassion, fairness, and transparency.
