Physical activity: understanding and addressing inequalities

Physical activity: understanding and addressing inequalities
PHE updated 18 August 2021

• This guidance can be used by local level practitioners and commissioners to begin tackling inequalities in physical activity across and within protected characteristic groups. It presents the findings of a review, analysis and research aimed at understanding the enablers, barriers and opportunities for increasing physical activity across inequality groups.

Benefits of GP care in outreach settings for people experiencing homelessness: a qualitative study

Benefits of GP care in outreach settings for people experiencing homelessness: a qualitative study
British Journal of General Practice 2021; 71 (709): e596-e603. DOI:https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGP.2020.0749

• An exploration of experiences of people experiencing homelessness of GP care in three community outreach settings in UK.

Abstract

Impact of COVID-19 on migrants’ access to primary care and implications for vaccine roll-out: a national qualitative study

Impact of COVID-19 on migrants’ access to primary care and implications for vaccine roll-out: a national qualitative study
British Journal of General Practice 2021; 71 (709): e583-e595. DOI:https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGP.2021.0028

• Qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews with 64 primary care professionals (PCPs) and 17 recently arrived migrants in urban, suburban, and rural settings across England highlights a range of issues around pandemic related changes to primary care delivery and vaccine roll out.

Abstract

COVID-19 among people experiencing homelessness in England: a modelling study

COVID-19 among people experiencing homelessness in England: a modelling study
The Lancet Respiratory Medicine 23 September 2020 DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(20)30396-9

• People experiencing homelessness are vulnerable to COVID-19 due to the risk of transmission in shared accommodation and the high prevalence of comorbidities. In England, as in some other countries, preventive policies have been implemented to protect this population. We aimed to estimate the avoided deaths and health-care use among people experiencing homelessness during the so-called first wave of COVID-19 in England—ie, the peak of infections occurring between February and May, 2020—and the potential impact of COVID-19 on this population in the future.

Health inequalities and COVID-19

Health inequalities and COVID-19
Public Health England (PHE) in collaboration with the LGA, Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH), and NHS England and NHS Improvement, have collated a suite of resources relating to health inequalities and COVID-19 to support place-based approaches to planning and responding to the pandemic, while mitigating against potential impacts on those with the poorest health outcomes.

• COVID-19: understanding the impact on BAME communities
• COVID-19 place based approach to reducing health inequalities overview
• COVID-19 Summary of Guidance and support for vulnerable groups
• COVID-19 Suggestions for mitigating the impact on health inequalities at a local level
• COVID-19 Health Equity Assessment Tool (HEAT) for local areas
• COVID-19 Data tools to support local areas
• COVID-19 Estimated population at risk by LA
• GOV.UK – disparities in the risks and outcomes of COVID-19 (pdf, 2020)
• Equality and Human Rights Commission – inquiry into the impact of coronavirus on ethnic minorities

Part of the COVID-19: public health collection

Community-centred practice: applying All Our Health

Community-centred practice: applying All Our Health
PHE 14 November 2018

• Information for front-line staff to adopt community-centred ways of working that help improves the health and wellbeing of the most marginalised communities. 
• The guidance for team leaders or managers includes PHE’s family of community-centred approaches which are used to map, plan, commission or deliver local services. Examples of community-centred and asset based practice can be found on PHE’s online library

Prevent duty toolkit for local authorities and partner agencies

Prevent duty toolkit for local authorities and partner agencies
Home Office 5 September 2018

• Supplementary information to the Prevent duty guidance for England and Wales.
• The toolkit supports the practical delivery of Prevent by local authorities and partner agencies by providing practical information on duty implementation, case study examples on good practice local delivery and a self-assessment framework.

Fire and rescue service home visits to vulnerable groups

Evaluation of the impact of Fire and Rescue Service interventions in reducing the risk of harm to vulnerable groups of people from winter-related illnesses
PHE November 2016

• This report examines the impact of fire and rescue service (FRS) interventions to reduce the risk of winter-related ill health in vulnerable groups of people between October 2015 and March 2016.
• The pilot delivered home visits which focused on a broader range of issues relating to health and wellbeing, aimed to address the health risks of people vulnerable to falls, social isolation, cold homes and flu during the winter months. Brief interventions focused on prevention of falls, cold homes and social isolation as well as signposting to flu immunisation.
• The analysis suggests that to break even, every 1,000 visits would need to prevent 65 A&E attendances or 8.4 emergency admissions or 3 mid to high risk falls.
• The pilot demonstrated some degree of transferability across three different models of delivery within the FRS. However, there is an indication that implementation is more effective on a smaller scale, across a single area, compared to large scale implementation across a metropolitan area, with a diverse population.
• Recommendations relate to preparation time, targeting, data sharing and collection, training, delivery, engagement, governance, content of the home visit, commissioning and longer-term evaluation.

Impact of accommodation on health of travellers

Gypsy and Traveller health: accommodation and living environment
National Health Inclusion Board (NIHB, Department of Health, 8 January 2016

• Two-thirds of the gypsy and traveller population reported poor health and that the poor health of this population is made worse by their living environment, accommodation insecurity and community discrimination.

Health of vulnerable groups - existing guidance, skills and barriers

Inclusion Health: Education and Training for Health Professionals
National Inclusion Health Board (NIHB), Department of Health 8 January 2016

• The Inclusion Health programme aims to improve the health and well-being of homeless people and other vulnerable groups. 
• This report reviews current professional guidance on Inclusion Health issues, existing skills, awareness and knowledge of health professionals, barriers the barriers to health and care services faced by these groups and the commitment of education providers to include Inclusion Health issues in wider training.