The role of the pathology workforce in tackling inequalities in healthcare was the topic of one of the sessions in the Opening Plenary at IBMS Congress.
Chris Sleight, Chief Officer for the Greater Manchester Pathology Network, delivered the session.
“I absolutely believe there is a role for everybody in this room – we can work together to drive down health inequality,” he said.
He talked through some stark examples of inequality – including life expectancy differing by 19 years in some parts of the UK, and quality life expectancy differing by as much as 30 years.
“The pandemic exacerbated health inequality,” he said. “Mortality rates were 2.6 times higher in more deprived areas than less deprived areas.”
He went on to say that health inequalities start at a very early age – looking at his own area of Greater Manchester, he said that 42% of children under 16 were living in poverty.
Other statistics for the area included: one in four 16–19-year-olds being unemployed and one in five unemployed residents not working due to long-term sickness.
Chris said that pathology networks have a role to play in ensuring standardisation and implementation of best practice and equality of access to pathology services.
He also said that equality across our own staff groups needs to be addressed and sharing data and standardisation of communication are essential in tackling inequality.
He concluded: “It is getting the basics right that is so important in tackling the basics of health inequality. To really change you need to change the culture. We can make better and safer progress if we work together.”
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