5th August 2025
What are health inequalities?
Health inequalities (HI) refer to the unfair and avoidable differences in status of people’s health, the care that they receive, and the opportunities they have to lead healthy lives. These inequalities are influenced by a wide range of factors, including the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age. Health inequalities are shaped by broader determinants of health such as income, education, employment, housing and access to services – all of which can have a significant impact on physical and mental wellbeing.
Wider determinants of health – the social, economic and environmental factors that shape people’s lives – are deeply interlinked. For example, someone who is unemployed may also face challenges such as poor housing conditions, limited access to green space or nutritious food and higher levels of stress. These factors can lead to an increased risk of chronic physical and mental health conditions, and an overall lower quality of life.
In addition to experiencing poorer health outcomes, individuals in disadvantaged circumstances may also encounter barriers to accessing healthcare. These barriers can include limited transport options, unsuitable service opening times, language difficulties (both spoken and written) or negative past experiences with services .
Across the UK, health inequalities disproportionately affect people living in areas of high deprivation, individuals from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, and from inclusion health groups such as people experiencing homelessness.
Health inequalities should not be inevitable
Health inequalities are shaped by the decisions we make as a society. Reducing health inequalities requires a comprehensive and holistic approach that addresses the root cause social determinants of health, ensures equitable access to healthcare, and implements policies to promote equity in health outcomes.
Tackling health inequalities effectively requires collaboration across sectors and systems. Health and care organisations need to work in partnership with communities, local authorities and wider stakeholders at local regional and national level .
NHS organisations and other public health bodies have a statutory duty under the Equality Act 2010 and the Health and Social Care Act 2021 to address health inequalities and advance equality of opportunity. This includes the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED), which requires public sector organisations, including the NHS, to eliminate unlawful discrimination, foster good relations between different groups and reduce inequalities in access to and outcomes from healthcare services. Meeting these duties involves collecting and analysing equality data, engaging with diverse communities, and embedding equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) principles in strategic planning, commissioning, and service delivery.
How we can support you tackling with health inequalities
At the TU, we are committed to addressing health inequalities in all areas of our work
Guided by our enabling ethos and focus on population health, we work with our clients to improve patient health outcomes through inclusive, data-informed approaches. Our commitment to addressing health inequalities and championing equality, diversity and inclusion involves a comprehensive and sustained effort across all our work to ensure fair and equitable health outcomes for all.
To address health inequalities:
- We collaborate with our clients to tackle health inequalities through a system-wide approach so that strategies are integrated across all levels of the healthcare system. Our clinical redesign and transformation approach is centred in data-driven decision-making and meaningful engagement, co-designing new models of care in partnership with stakeholders and local communities. We create sustainable, future-ready healthcare systems which enhance quality of care and improve patient experience.
- We collect and analyse data on health disparities to identify and target areas where inequalities are most pronounced. Data informs our work and enables us to develop solutions that are fit for purpose and have a greater impact on long term patient outcomes. We use a range of tools to assess and visualise the impact of health interventions:
– Population health data insights: Leveraging population health data to gain insights into health trends and disparities, enabling targeted interventions and resource allocation to improve health outcomes.
– Geospatial analysis: Undertaking geospatial analysis to assess the impact of estates plans on deprived communities, ensuring that developments are equitable and beneficial to all.
– Future demand modelling: Building flexible models that can be tailored to local population health trends to support accurate service planning to deliver the right care, at the right time, to the people who need it most. - We engage with key stakeholders to help us understand the impact of decisions and transformation, and we strive to make sure that the voices of both staff and communities are heard. Our expert team consists of Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) specialists, who can guide our clients through key legal requirements and population health considerations to ensure decisions are compliant and have the desired impact.
- We support our clients to take a strategic workforce planning approach developing a workforce that is equipped to meet the evolving needs of the population, ensuring that health services are delivered effectively and efficiently. We derive population health insights, map the current demand and workforce profile and model into future workforce requirements.
- We ensure we are well informed and educated on new policies and guidance and good practice that is being developed to address the social determinants of health.
Our approach to health inequalities is embedded meaningfully across all offers and methodologies, with a robust way of evaluating the impact of our work.
Our Expertise
The TU brings extensive experience in delivering projects and programmes aimed at addressing health inequalities. We are proud to have a wealth of experience within our team, including Safeera Ahmed, Managing Consultant, who sits on the NHS CORE20PLUS5 national board. Safeera ensures that our work is aligned with national priorities and best practices in reducing health inequalities.
Working together for equitable health outcomes
If you’re planning or delivering a transformation programme and would like to explore how our services could help you, please get in touch. Our team brings a broad range of expertise, from strategic planning and business case development to clinical redesign and complex programme management.