Agenda item

Report and presentation of Liz Gaulton, Director of Public Health and Wellbeing

The Board considered a report of Liz Gaulton, Director of Public Health and Wellbeing which put forward steps for the Board to take in response to national evidence showing the unequal impact of Covid-19 on different groups.

The report indicated that the Covid-19 pandemic had shone a light on health inequalities, showing the stark reality that the circumstances you were born into, and in which you live your life, could have very real consequences for your health. Public Health England undertook a rapid review into disparities around the risk and outcomes of Covid-19 that explored risk factors including age, sex, ethnicity, co-morbidities, deprivation and occupation. An appendix to the report set out a short summary on selected risk factors associated with increased risk of death from Covid-19 from selected PHE and Office for National Statistics (ONS) reports.

National analysis had shown that people from most BAME groups had a higher risk of dying from Covid-19 than those of White ethnicity.  In statistical analyses, these risks were reduced when socio-economic, household and geographical characteristics and factors relating to occupation were accounted for, suggesting that some, but not all, of the increased risk of death was due to these. At the time of the 2011 Census, one in three Coventry residents (33%) were from BAME groups and among children attending Coventry schools in January 2020, 53% were from BAME groups.

As part of their disparities report, PHE engaged with over 4,000 people to understand their views on the reasons for the inequality for those in BAME groups. This led them to propose seven recommendations which were set out in the report.

In Coventry, there already existed a multi-agency group that worked to reduce health inequalities: the Marmot Partnership Group. The Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy that was adopted by the Health and Wellbeing Board last year was based around four pillars. One of these was to address the wider determinants of health, such as income deprivation and housing. This work was being led by the Marmot Partnership Group and, as such, the group was well placed to take the strategic lead on work to reduce health inequalities associated with Covid-19, including the local implementation of the seven PHE recommendations. Since the work recommendations touch on all four pillars, there would be a need for collaboration with other groups, such as the One Coventry Board.

The Marmot Partnership Group was in the process of setting up a Sub Group to look at inequalities for BAME groups, aiming to develop two to three actions in relation to these recommendations and also to identify and share good work that was already happening. Other Sub Groups around the Covid-19 inequalities response were also being determined. Organisations represented on the Health and Wellbeing Board were already taking action in the area of Covid-19-related inequalities and it was proposed that this would be enhanced through a co-ordinated review through the lenses of employees and wider communities.

The report provided examples of local actions undertaken in recent months. These included the Covid-19 health impact assessment which was conducted jointly with Warwickshire County Council and considered health inequalities. It was agreed that this document would be circulated to members.

Members discussed how they could together add value through reviewing covid-19 related inequalities. They discussed the importance of protecting front line BAME key workers; made reference to the issue of obesity and covid-19, highlighting the success of the fitness in the parks initiative; made reference to the importance of protecting health through prevention measures; and referred to the importance of partnership working to put health inequalities at the forefront, building on existing good practice.    

RESOLVED that:

(1) Approval be given that the Marmot Partnership Group take the strategic lead on supporting the system to address health inequalities relating to Covid-19.

(2) Approval be given that the work of the Marmot Partnership Group should include leading on implementing the recommendations developed by Public Health England (PHE) to reduce the disproportionate impact that Covid-19 has had on people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) groups.

(3) The Marmot Partnership Group be requested to provides a progress update to the Board in 6 months.

(4) Board members to consider how they may together add value through reviewing Covid-19 related inequalities through the lenses of our employees and wider communities.

(5) A copy of the Covid 19 health impact assessment that was conducted jointly with Warwickshire County Council to be circulated to members.