New health strategy approved for Sunderland as leaders hope crisis can lead to revolution for city

The Sunderland Covid-19 Draft Health Inequalities Strategy aims to shine a light on health issues that can put people at increased risk of coronavirus.

According to the report, nearly a third of Sunderland’s overall population (30.6%) are more likely to contract the disease.

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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.

However, the report recognises that tackling the root causes of health inequalities can not be solved by public health alone – with wider partnership working needed during the recovery from the pandemic.

Cabinet member for Healthy City, Coun Dr Geoff Walker, introduced the draft strategy at a cabinet meeting on June 16 – which was broadcast live on YouTube in line with social distancing measures.

The meeting heard that the impact of Covid-19 has “replicated existing health inequalities and in some cases exacerbated them.”

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Coun Dr Walker went on to say: “The strategy aims to raise awareness of the importance of health inequalities in both the local response and the recovery to Covid-19.

“It also aims to follow the key principles set out in the healthy city plan and use data, intelligence and evidence to systematically understand the natural and unintended consequences that may have widened health inequalities.”

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.

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

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

At the meeting, cabinet member for Children, Learning and Skills, Coun Louise Farthing, said the strategy should reference the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown on single parents.

“For them I would imagine it has been a great strain to deal with the shopping and education, particularly if they’re working from home as well,” she said.

“Most parents have found it a strain even when they have been able to divide those chores but if you’re a single parent I think it has been particularly difficult and I think we should make a comment in the strategy to take account of that.”

Coun Dr Walker welcomed the comments and said they would be added to the strategy.

Following cabinet backing, the draft strategy will be discussed by Sunderland’s Health and Wellbeing Board and the council’s relevant scrutiny committee.

Any changes to the plan in future will be made by the council’s director of public health in consultation with the cabinet member for Healthy City.

To view the Sunderland Covid-19 Draft Health Inequalities Strategy , visit: https://www.sunderland.gov.uk/committees/cmis5/Meetings/tabid/73/ctl/ViewMeetingPublic/mid/410/Meeting/10231/Committee/1953/SelectedTab/Documents/Default.aspx

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