The Health Foundation and NHS England commissioned a practical guide to support NHS systems to narrow health inequalities.

Co-written by the Yorkshire and Humber Academic Health Science Network and a reference group of national experts, stakeholders, service providers and people with lived experience of inequalities, the guide suggests practical action systems can take to ensure equitable access, excellent experience and optimal outcomes for all.

Covering four key areas for action, the guide offers good practice examples, which systems and providers can adapt and apply to their local context. There are also helpful checklists to assist system leaders, managers, clinicians, and operational staff, to design new models of care and embed sustainable action to drive down healthcare inequalities.

The key areas were identified from 32 examples of tackling inequalities in healthcare and include:

1. Creating an enabling system context
2. Building clear and shared understanding
3. Maintaining a sense of urgency and commitment to act
4. Focusing on implementation, impact and evaluation.

These are common themes for success and are the necessary foundations for sustained service level action.

Aimed at clinicians, managers and leaders from across the healthcare system – the guide is also a helpful resource for the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector (VCSE), local authorities, patient groups and other stakeholders who influence their local NHS and hold them to account.

The guide supports the national Core20plus5 approach to reduce healthcare inequalities which focuses on a population group of the core 20% most deprived nationally and those from inclusion health groups; outlining five clinical areas of focus.

Read ‘Tackling inequalities in healthcare access, experience and outcomes – Actionable insights‘.