East Suffolk Council
Tackling health inequalities in East Suffolk
A new collaborative approach to tackling health inequalities affecting East Suffolk residents has been launched, with partners working together to improve people’s access to health services, education, employment and housing.
The East Suffolk Marmot Place was officially launched on Thursday 27 November at High Lodge in Hinton and was attended by representatives from the main partner organisations; East Suffolk Council, Suffolk County Council and both the NHS Norfolk and Waveney ICB and NHS Suffolk and North East Essex ICBs which cover East Suffolk.
Health inequalities are unfair and avoidable differences in people's health, including how long people are likely to live, the health conditions they experience and the care available to them. A Marmot Place recognises that health inequalities are shaped by people’s living, learning and working conditions, sometimes known as the ‘social determinants of health’ and include people’s access to services, education, employment and housing.
At the launch of the East Suffolk Marmot Place, Sir Michael Marmot delivered a presentation on health inequalities in the district, delegates took part in a workshop looking at the key data around those inequalities and then heard from a range of experts working first hand to tackle them. The event closed with a talk from Alicia Phillips from the Institute of Health Equity about the Coventry Marmot Place and what becoming a Marmot Place means in practice.
Cllr Caroline Topping, Leader of East Suffolk Council said:
“Meeting Sir Michael has been one of the most humbling of highlights of being Leader of East Suffolk Council. He and his team are an inspiration.
“Achieving health equity for our residents requires improving the conditions which shape their lives and this requires a joint approach. By working with partner organisations across the district, we will focus on tackling root causes of health inequalities, deliver better health outcomes and create communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.”
Marmot Places were developed after an independent report by Professor Sir Michael Marmot in 2010, commissioned by the then government, identified the most effective ways to reduce health inequalities in England using a set of eight principles:
- Give every child the best start in life.
- Enable all children, young people and adults to maximise their capabilities and have control over their lives.
- Create fair employment and good work for all.
- Ensure a healthy standard of living for all.
- Create and develop healthy and sustainable places and communities.
- Strengthen the role and impact of ill health prevention.
- Tackle racism, discrimination and their outcomes.
- Pursue environmental sustainability and health equity together.
More than 50 areas across England, Wales and Scotland have already signed up to be Marmot Places; 37 of them are local councils and East Suffolk is the latest area to join.