National Inequalities Director praises local projects making healthcare accessible for all
Projects helping to improve healthcare and reduce inequalities in Basildon and Southend were recognised by one of the country’s leading doctors during a recent visit.
Volunteers and NHS staff involved in local initiatives, which range from helping young people in A&E to supporting residents to gain new skills, received praise from Dr Bola Owolabi, Director for Health Inequalities at NHS England.
The projects are part of the Anchor Programme, led by Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, where local hospitals support their communities to find quality work.
The GP, who leads the NHS’s efforts to combat inequality in healthcare, first met volunteers and service users at South Essex Community Hub (SECH) in Southend.
David Preston, Chief Executive Officer of SECH, said: “We enable local people to realise their full potential with digital support, counselling and volunteering opportunities. By working in partnership with the Trust through the Anchor Programme, we can help those living in deprived areas secure work at Southend Hospital and at other local organisations. It was a pleasure to welcome Bola and show her everything we do.”
The Trust is working with partners across Southend, including SECH, to offer free training, CV and application-writing skills, and opportunities to speak with NHS recruiters.
Dr Owolabi next met with children and their families who have received care for sickle cell disease. The Trust’s Clinical Director for Paediatrics, Dr Maimuna Mushabe, said: “We’ve brought together our paediatric sickle cell service to ensure all our patients in mid and south Essex are looked after by one team. We’ve also hired more nurses to help care for them both in the hospital and the community, and our patients now have 24/7 access to care from our trained consultants.”
Two projects helping young people in Basildon were also on the agenda. This included the Trust’s supported internship programme for young people in Basildon, Broomfield and Southend hospitals, and the Essex Youth Service, where youth workers from Essex County Council work in Basildon Hospital’s Emergency Department to identify and support vulnerable young patients.
Dr Owolabi said: “We need to reduce the inequalities in health that our communities face, and that is exactly what is happening in Basildon and Southend. The supported internship programme, skills opportunities for Southend residents and new ways of delivering sickle cell care are all so valuable to tackle differences in how we experience healthcare.”
Dr Sophia Morris, Senior Clinical Fellow for Inequalities at Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System, said: “Our system-wide initiatives are helping bridge the inequalities gap, such as our digital inclusion programme for older residents, driving a preventive approach in cardiovascular and respiratory health, engaging with ethnic minority communities, and helping to shape local maternity services.