Hello, my name is Arif Patel, I’m the Deputy Director of Integrated Care, Partnerships and Resilience at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT) and I have the pleasure of being guest blogger this week.
In a world marked by incredible advancements in medicine, technology and overall progress, the persistent disparities in health outcomes among diverse populations and various societal groups, remain a sobering reality.
The significance of health equity has become more apparent than ever before. And it is clear that it is not just a matter of fairness; it is a fundamental human right.
Imagine two individuals facing identical health challenges, yet their paths to recovery are starkly different. Why? Because the social, economic, and environmental factors influencing their lives are not the same.
This undeniable truth is the driving force behind the urgent need for equitable care. Health Equity means eliminating inequalities in access to services, information, and outcomes. It means making sure that everyone, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, or any other factor, has the same opportunity to achieve good health.
These are foundations that the NHS, which makes us all so proud, is built on!
At ELHT, we have been working hard to achieve Health Equity for our patients and colleagues. A key initiative driving this mission is our collaboration with the Health Equity Alliance—a multi-organisation effort that enables the sharing of best practices, data, and resources to understand the health needs of our diverse community.
Through this collaboration, we've delved into waiting lists, pinpointing areas of need and crafting a personalised approach to care. I wrote about some of this work in a blog back in August 2022, which you can read here.
We have also shared our work with other hospitals, community groups, charities, local councils, the local police and health care organisations across the region, so that we can all learn from each other and work towards a more equitable health care system.
The responsibility to achieve Health Equity rests on everyone's shoulders—colleagues and patients alike. We firmly believe that every interaction with our patients is an opportunity to champion Health Equity, whether through culturally sensitive care, language access, or simply treating everyone with the utmost respect and dignity.
To better understand the needs of our patients, we're establishing a lived experience panel and in the coming months, a Health Inequality Committee, chaired by Chief Nurse Pete Murphy, will be developed to scrutinise any avoidable inequalities within our services.
Over the past year, I've piloted health equity workshops with colleagues, and I'm pleased to announce a scheduled series throughout the year, bringing colleagues and patients together to discuss the significance of health equity and personalised care. Attendees will be encouraged to become Health Equity champions, spreading the message and practices within their teams and communities.
By adopting a health equity mindset into our daily lives, we collectively contribute to promoting a more equitable and just healthcare system. Watch out for regular updates through our communication channels, highlighting what we are doing and how patients and colleagues can get involved.
In essence, Health Equity is about forging a fair and just healthcare system that works for everyone. At ELHT, we are proud of the work we have done to promote Health Equity, but we know there's still more to be done.
I encourage everyone to join us in this important work, and to remember that every action taken can make a difference in promoting a more equitable and just society.