A new Local Government Association (LGA) report on embracing Marmot principles to tackle health inequalities has featured work in Cheshire and Merseyside as a case study.
The report titled ‘Building fairer towns, cities and regions’, highlights significant progress by councils across the country in tackling health inequalities by addressing the social determinants of health through the ‘Marmot Eight’ principles.
Our ‘All Together Fairer: Health equity and the social determinants of health in Cheshire and Merseyside’ report is highlighted in the case study as providing an overarching framework that allows all sectors to keep the same narrative, collaboration and shared outcomes of tackling health inequalities.
The case study also highlights working with the Institute of Health Equity (IHE) to introduce our All Together Active programme, commissioned by the Integrated Care System (ICS) Population Health Board and developed by Active Cheshire and Merseyside Sport (MSP) , as a strategy to address eight Marmot eight principles.
Professor Ian Ashworth, Director of Population Health for NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, commented in the report on the widespread local recognition of challenges posed by poverty, including ill health and the mounting demand on health services, saying:
“We see poverty more acutely in our part of the world. A lot of the challenges to ill health and demand on health and care services comes from people having rubbish housing, rubbish jobs or rubbish things going on in their lives.”
“The urgent need to address these inequalities coincided with the establishment of Integrated Care Boards (ICBs)” says Ashworth. There was ‘buy in’ and strong support for the Marmot approach. “We wanted to work together as a unified front, so that’s why we brought in the IHE.”
Cheshire West and Cheshire Council leader and LGA Chair, Cllr Louise Gittins, was highlighted for playing a vital role in bringing people on the journey toward becoming a Marmot Place and commented on adopting the approach in the case study:
“By working collaboratively across sectors, we’ve brought together councils, health services, wider public sector, housing, and community, voluntary and faith sectors to create real, meaningful change.
“Prioritising our most disadvantaged communities not only improves health outcomes but also strengthens our local economy, making Cheshire and Merseyside healthier and more prosperous for everyone.
“Adopting a Marmot approach in Cheshire and Merseyside has allowed us to focus on the social factors that influence health, like housing, education, and employment, ensuring we tackle inequalities at their root.” said Cllr Gittins.
Read the full case study and LGA report by visiting Cheshire and Merseyside: tackling health inequalities across a region | Local Government Association.
