Coronavirus has brought Sunderland's health inequalities into sharp focus - and city leaders want to use it as a time for change

Reducing deprivation and inequalities on Wearside remain the key to public health improvements and tackling Covid-19, council bosses have said.
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According to a new report, nearly a third of Sunderland’s overall population (30.6%) face an increased risk of contracting coronavirus.

This includes 37,956 people aged over 70 and 44,651 of all ages who are in a clinical at risk group because of their medical conditions.

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The report Sunderland Covid-19 Draft Health Inequalities Strategyis being considered at next week’s meeting of Sunderland City Council’s ruling cabinet.

The draft strategy builds on previous work that has already identified poverty and deprivation contributing to underlying health conditions that put city residents at greater risk of contracting Covid-19.

However, it also recognises that beating the causes of health inequalities cannot be done through public health services alone.

Leader of Sunderland City Council, Coun Graeme Miller, said: “Everyone across the city is very aware of the clear evidence that Covid-19 has had a big and tragic impact on our city.

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“The statistics all indicate that more deprived areas of England and Wales with higher proportions of people with long-term medical conditions, low incomes, elderly or vulnerable, are more likely to die than those of more affluent areas.

“These are the stark facts behind what’s been happening in our city, in the North East region and other less well off parts of the country.

“Reducing inequality and poverty will help make our city healthier.”

The strategy sets out how the council and other health agencies and partners across the region and city must continue to reduce ill health.

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This includes reducing social inequality, improving living conditions, improving medical wellbeing and resilience and reducing risky behaviour, such as smoking and alcohol consumption.

The report to cabinet states: “As the Marmot review 10 years on showed, deprived communities in England have seen vital physical and community assets lost, resources and funding reduced, community and voluntary services eroded and public services cut over the past decade.

“All of this has damaged health and widened inequalities. Looking ahead to the aftermath of the pandemic, lessons from the past decade of austerity must be learned.”

Cabinet member for Health and Social Care, Coun Dr Geoff Walker, said: “We have our City Plan and its ambitions to create a dynamic, healthy and vibrant city and this is going to have the biggest and greatest impact on people’s lives.

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“Change is already happening with new homes, new work places, new schools and we have to continue with improvements to our city.

“There is a very real risk that Covid-19 could set us back with an economic recession and social consequences that could increase our health inequalities and increase deprivation in Sunderland.

“We cannot allow this to happen.”

In March, Sunderland’s Health and Wellbeing Board strategic partners met with Professor Sir Michael Marmot at The Stadium of Light.

Following that meeting it was decided to adopt Marmot’s policy objectives:

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1) Give every child the best start in life2) Enable all children, young people and adults to maximise their capabilities and have control over their lives3) Create fair employment and good work for all4) Ensure a healthy standard of living for all5) Create and develop healthy and sustainable places and communities6) Strengthen the role and impact of ill-health prevention.

Coun Dr Walker added: “The adoption of these objectives represents a significant step forward in addressing health inequalities in the city.”

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the city council’s cabinet has started to meet remotely with the next meeting scheduled for Tuesday, June 16 at 2pm.

Meetings can be viewed on the council’s Youtube channel. The link for this meeting is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_vfdSqAZgQ

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