We need to focus on local solutions for health inequalities

Abstract

The covid-19 pandemic and the recent cost-of-living crisis have substantially exacerbated pre-existing inequalities in health and social care in the UK.1 Marginalised populations are disproportionately affected, for example by experiencing higher rates of childhood obesity, depression, and maternal and neonatal mortality.2 Paradoxically, those who are most in need of medical care—disadvantaged populations—often face the greatest barriers to accessing it. In England, people living in the most deprived areas are twice as likely to wait over a year for non-urgent treatment compared to others.3 For the NHS to make a real difference to health equity, local organisations should not be waiting for a solution to emerge nationally. Instead, they should be looking to, and working with, the local populations they serve. For instance, there is a critical need for better data on …