‘For some, the consequences of Covid-19 have been devastating’ – call for action on inequality across Wales
ABROAD-BASED coalition of 36 organisations from the health, social care, transport, and housing sectors have signed up to a joint paper which calls for urgent Welsh Government action on health inequalities.
They say that the incredible hardship inflicted by the Covid-19 pandemic has not been equally felt by individuals, families, and communities across Wales – and that for some, the consequences have been devastating.
Endorsed by bodies including the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges in Wales, Shelter Cymru, the British Medical Association, Community Housing Cymru, Sustrans Cymru, Macmillan Cancer Support, and the British Red Cross, the paper calls on the next Welsh Government to publish an ambitious cross-government strategy and delivery plan to:
■ tackle inequalities;
■ invest in long-term prevention across all sectors, especially housing, education, health, energy, and transport;
■ and work in partnership with people and communities to change lives for the better.
The paper follows an open letter to First Minister Mark Drakeford and Senedd opposition party leaders in February calling for a cross-government strategy on health inequalities.
In reply, the Welsh Government acknowledged that “health inequalities arise as a result of the social and economic inequalities that shape the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, learn, work and age… the impact of healthcare on health inequalities is relatively small.”
Those endorsing the joint paper say it is time to build on the “Health in All Policies” approach with a cross-government strategy.
Dr Olwen Williams, Royal College of Physicians vice-president for Wales, said: “As doctors, we’re seeing first hand the impact of unfair and avoidable differences in health and wellbeing between different groups of people.
“It’s not at all surprising that when a pandemic piled pressure onto our health system, the people who suffered the most were those who were already struggling.
“Tackling the social causes of health inequalities has never been more urgent: this is not an issue to be addressed once the pandemic is behind us.”
Stuart Ropke, chief executive of Community Housing Cymru, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing inequalities in our communities, and made clear how important a warm, safe home is to our health and wellbeing.
“Poor housing currently costs the NHS in Wales more than £95m per year in treatment costs. Investing in homes that are adaptable, connected, warm and safe will make a massive difference to helping people stay well and remain independent in their own homes for as long as possible.
“To urgently respond to the scale of health inequalities in Wales, the next Welsh Government has a vital role to co-ordinate action from all partners who can help tackle the root causes of poor health. Housing Associations stand ready to play their full part.”
Professor Peter Saul, joint chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners Cymru Wales said: “There are lots of ideas to tackle the inequality of health outcomes that blight the life chances of so many. To harness these ideas, we need a strategy that unites different policy remits and is answerable in political terms to the First Minister, and in community terms to the very people it is seeking to help. I think this policy paper helps us to bring people together behind that vision and can put Wales at the forefront of efforts to tackle health inequality in the first year of the new Welsh Government.”
Darren Hughes, director of the Welsh NHS Confederation, said: “The pandemic has brought the issue of health inequalities into sharp focus and exposed the harsh realities of this deep-rooted and
multi-faceted problem.
“NHS leaders from across Wales are determined to reduce avoidable and unfair differences in health outcomes, working closely across sectors and political boundaries to address shared challenges and focus on wellbeing, prevention, and early intervention.
“As an anchor organisation employing around 100,000 people, NHS bodies have a positive influence on the economy and the health and wellbeing of communities across Wales. Everything we do must make a material difference at a local level to reduce the impacts of wider determinants of health. However, as we know, the NHS alone doesn’t have the levers to make the vital changes needed and all organisations and sectors across Wales must come together to create the conditions necessary for good health and wellbeing.”
Gemma Roberts, policy and public affairs manager at British Heart Foundation Cymru, said: “Covid-19 has highlighted concerning variation in cardiac care across Wales. This, and higher rates of obesity and smoking, mean that the poorest in our society have worse health outcomes when diagnosed with heart and circulatory diseases. Better prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment for people in Wales living with these conditions is vital.”
Dr David Bailey, chairman of the British Medical Association’s Welsh Council, said: “It is crucial that the Welsh Government takes a proactive approach to tackling the underlying inequalities which lead to unacceptable differences in life expectancy and quality of life in Wales.
“We know many inequalities are avoidable and remediable and there is a moral and economic case for them to be addressed without delay.”