This episode of Health on the Line tackles the issue of worsening health inequalities across the UK and the urgent action required to address them.  

With the theme of tackling these disparities running throughout the government’s NHS 10 Year Health Plan, there is an opportunity now to realign healthcare with this goal.  

To discuss the topic in relation to respiratory disease and vaccine preventable diseases, Matthew Taylor is joined by Sarah Sleet, chief executive of Asthma + Lung UK, and Dr Tom Nutt, chief executive of Meningitis Now. The trio explore how community-based respiratory programmes can improve early diagnosis and treatment access, while expanding vaccine cohorts and raising awareness can help increase coverage against vaccine-preventable disease.  

They also consider what kind of practical approaches can help bridge gaps to improve health outcomes and reduce health inequalities more broadly across the healthcare system.  

Matthew is also joined by Sonia Nosheen, assistant director for the Acute Network at the NHS Confederation, to hear about the Confederation’s work supporting members in the area of ophthalmology. The new programme aims to help members deliver care closer to where patients live and work. 

This episode is non-promotional, sponsored by GSK and developed in partnership with the NHS Confederation. 

Health on the Line is an NHS Confederation podcast, produced by HealthCommsPlus. 

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