Posted on: 29 November 2023
The NHS Act 2006 (as amended, by the Health and Care Act 2022) places a range of health inequalities duties on the NHS. Changes arising from the Health and Care Act 2022 provide extended legal duties on reducing and tackling health inequalities.
NHS England published their statement on 27 November 2023. It sets out their views on how integrated care boards (ICBs), trusts and foundation trusts (relevant NHS bodies) should collect, analyse publish and use information on health inequalities. Relevant NHS bodies have a legal duty to include in their annual reports a review of the extent to which they have exercised their functions consistently with this Statement.
The duty to report information on health inequalities will encourage better quality data, completeness and increased transparency. Relevant NHS bodies should use the data to shape and monitor improvement activity. The statement will help drive improvement in the provision of good quality services and in reducing healthcare inequalities, helping to ensure equitable access, experience and outcomes for all.
NHS England will produce frequently asked questions (FAQs) and further support materials on the health inequalities legal duties, in response to the needs of relevant NHS bodies.
There is a webinar on Wednesday 24 January 2024, from 12 till 1 to explain the legal duties and answer questions orgnaisations might have. To find out more and to find out what this means for your organisation, please register. This will be particularly useful for relevant NHS bodies or other organisations that provide commissioned NHS services. You can submit questions in advance on the type of support you would find useful to: england.healthinequalities@nhs.net