Steps are being taken to tackle Trafford’s huge health inequalities.
Since the start of the pandemic, differences across sections borough in terms of illness, disease and health conditions have become even more pronounced.
In one example, a recent council report highlighted how the number of cancer deaths, cases of diabetes and obesity rates in the north and west of Trafford now far outstrip those in the more affluent southern areas of the borough.
Levels of poverty experienced across Trafford are also thought to have ‘deepened’ since the start of the pandemic.
Now, the council says it is acting to tackle these issues.
A council health equality report said: “Improving equality across everything we do is a key priority and the unequal impact of Covid-19 has shone a light on areas where inequalities need to be tackled urgently. We are working to ensure that equality and inclusion good practices are implemented and embedded in all areas.
“Our Poverty Strategy aims to tackle the root causes of poverty in our communities and assist those people for whom the poverty and inequalities they were experiencing prior to the pandemic will have deepened since.”
To try and tackle the health inequalities, Trafford council is adopting specific measures, including improved access to and uptake of Covid-19 vaccinations, cancer screening appointments and mental health support.
Some of the other measures set to be adopted, subject to an executive vote this evening, (Monday January 24) include:
- Improving vaccination uptake amongst ethnic communities and vulnerable populations
- Reducing variations in cancer screening by population groups, between GP clinics and PCNs (Primary Care Networks)
- Provide pop-up covid-19 vaccination clinics
- Trafford is one of three localities across Greater Manchester working with the
Centre for Mental Health (CfMH) to try and reduce inequalities in mental health across the borough – work on this is due to start in the next six months. - Providing suicide prevention training and support as well as raising awareness of the issue
- Redesigning the borough’s NHS over-40s health check, including possibly lowering the age of eligibility for these check ups for people from ethnic communities
- Tackling smoking habits by distributing tools, quit kits, videos, posters and awareness raising of Trafford’s E-cigarette
- Empowering people with disabilities through community projects
- Offering falls prevention classes for older people
- Offering active lifestyle choices; including well-being walks and Couch to 5km groups across the borough
- Providing weight management support services for adults across Trafford
- Healthy lifestyle programmes and school programmes to reduce obesity, focusing on schools with the highest prevalence of excess weight, are also being piloted for the borough’s children and young people
The new strategy is a joint programme between Trafford council and Trafford NHS Clinical Commissioning Group and is due to be voted on by the council’s executive from 6.30pm this evening.
