Health inequalities Resources

Following the Covid-19 pandemic and the cost of living crisis, the authors have seen an increase in the number of patients attending their continence clinics with issues with the bowel or bladder and/ or pelvic floor dysfunction that were reporting a history of abuse, sexual violence and/or trauma. The authors recognised the need to adopt a more trauma-informed approach to care, and so reached out to Visible, a project which wants to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse (CSA). They had been approached by Visible to support statutory and voluntary bodies by working together to develop effective policies and best practices. The authors’ understanding of the links between trauma and bowel, bladder, pelvic floor, mental health, and gynaecological issues has grown, highlighting how these experiences may present in diverse and complex ways. They have also recognised that trauma can contribute to inequalities in healthcare and that individuals may find it difficult to know how or where to seek help. Therefore, it is important to raise awareness among healthcare professionals about the specific inequalities faced by those who have experienced CSA, and to recognise that services need to work together to improve outcomes for both patients and healthcare professionals.

Across the UK, there are profound health inequalities for people living in rural communities when compared to their metropolitan counterparts. Barriers, such as slow advances in health technology and a lack of healthcare professionals, are causing issues including lower life expectancy, a mental health crisis, and lower survival rates for diseases such as cancer for people living in rural communities. This is affecting people of all ages, with young people in deprived rural areas more likely to have chronic health conditions.

Heather Stringer describes an innovative project to enhance family health issues in line with the Government health agenda.
Heather Stringer MSc, BA, RGN, RM, RSCN, RHV, Grad. Cert. Ed. PGDip. is a Public Health Visitor with Health On The Streets Team, North Bradford Primary Care Trust.
Article accepted for publication: January 2006