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.
The additional £899m investment in general practice is a welcome step forward, and its positive impact should not be underestimated. The increase in global sum funding is a strong move, reinforcing the importance of capitation as a foundation for an equitable funding system. However, the Carr-Hill formula, which underpins funding allocation, reflects activity rather than need. The additional investment within the current funding streams shows that simply increasing investment without contract reform risks reinforcing existing funding inequalities.
This blog explores the vital role of Sure Start in improving children’s physical health, social functioning, and neurodevelopmental health – support eroded by austerity-driven cuts. It presents findings from the first systematic review of Sure Start’s health impacts, showing how early intervention reduced hospital admissions, childhood obesity, and improved school readiness. The evidence is clear: restoring Sure Start is key to tackling health inequities and giving every child a fair start in life.
This blog explores the rise of private health care in the UK and its impact on creating a two-tier system. It highlights regional disparities in access to orthopaedic procedures and discusses the implications for patients, the NHS, and policymakers.
