Thriving together to tackle inequalities in Northumberland

29 Jul 2022 ARCHIVED (over 3 months old) - view latest news

Key stakeholders in Northumberland are working on a major plan to tackle inequalities across the county. 

It follows a summit earlier this year when key stakeholders and senior leaders from the County Council, the NHS, voluntary and private sector including businesses came together. It marked the first in the series of conversations which gathered organisations together to start to plan a way forward to tackle inequalities which includes working differently with our communities. 

Life expectancy for people living in the least deprived areas of Northumberland is 87 years whilst for those living in the most deprived areas it is 75. This is a 13-year gap which is preventable and unacceptable as some people are ill too soon and dying too young. 

Leader of Northumberland County Council Glen Sanderson, said: “We are leading the way in Northumberland. Collaborative work on this scale to tackle inequality has never happened before. 

“We know the link between health, social and economic factors is clear. By bringing key stakeholders together across agencies, we can work collaboratively to develop a Northumberland wide approach building further on our existing Joint health and Wellbeing Strategy and much closer with our communities.  

“There is a great deal happening across the county in relation to economic activity and regeneration. But that is not all that is needed to tackle inequalities, and the pandemic has made it easier for us to see where inequalities lie. We must bring economic and social factors closer together. 

“The input of everyone involved in the inequality events will help us to draft an Inequalities Plan, with actions that can be delivered at scale over the coming years.” 

Siobhan Brown, Director of Transformation at North East & North Cumbria Integrated Care Board said: “It has been fantastic to see the number of people who want to get involved in this work. Stakeholders from all sorts of organisations, right across the county, have joined the conversation so far. 

“We know health and wellbeing is less to do with the health care services provided, and more about how people are enabled to lead within their communities – where they live, work and socialise. People can be powerful agents for change, and we want to support and empower communities so everyone can thrive and have a good life. Further events will be taking place within our communities to encourage this to happen. ” 

Derry Nugent, Project Coordinator at Healthwatch Northumberland said: “It is great to be involved in this project and we are passionate about eliminating inequality across Northumberland.  

“We know those who face inequality have poorer health outcomes which are unfair and avoidable. This project will help to build on the relationships between individuals and institutions, so they work better together to tackle this. 

“At Healthwatch Northumberland we know the importance of the voice and strength of the community so I am delighted to be part of a wider discussion which recognises that shift in looking more at what communities can do for themselves and then what they need help with and or what they need outside agencies to do for them. I’m looking forward to continuing this important conversation.” 

Information from the stakeholder events is now being collated and considered. An initial high level Inequalities plan will be developed and presented to Health and Wellbeing board in September for approval before the next layer of conversations deeper into local communities.