Health Equity

Our Health Equity Team began in 2022 and aims to tackle health inequalities across Gateshead, but what exactly are health inequalities? Essentially, health inequalities are avoidable and unfair differences in health between different groups of people. Not only are some people living less healthy lives but also dying earlier than they should be. For example, for men living in Gateshead there’s nearly a 10-year difference in life expectancy depending on where you live. The things that contribute to health inequalities are complex, and no one organisation can tackle these issues alone, but we know that where we live, how connected we are and how easy it is to get help all play a part. This is why all of our Health Equity work builds meaningful relationships with communities and local partners, and values people through listening to what matters to them. This approach enables us to personalise support and empower communities to take control of their own health and wellbeing.

Our Health Equity delivery work is currently focused in the East and Inner West of Gateshead. However, the team is also involved in a number of system wide discussions looking to address health inequalities across the borough.

In addition, we are leading on a new Gateshead wide Dementia Network. The Network was created following expressions of interest from NHS and local authority staff, VCSE and carers' groups, and the network is now scheduled to meet regularly to provide a forum to discuss support and provision of services in Gateshead. The network already has over 50 members, and key goals are to reduce the fragmentation of service provision reported by professionals, patients, and carers alike, whilst enabling opportunities for better co-production and training.

East Gateshead

Our Health Equity team offers a range of services for patients who are registered at Longrigg Medical Centre, Crowhall Medical Centre, St. Albans Medical Group and Pelaw Medical Centre (the East Gateshead Primary Care Network).

Our Children, Young People and Families Team

The Children, Young People and Families Team support families to get help before problems escalate to crisis. They offer practical support, such as helping get children to school, link families to activities, development opportunities and support services, whilst offering emotional support. The team also run a number of group activities responding to the needs of the families they are working with.

Feedback from local GP:

[A patient] presented with severe bilateral hip pain had x-rays showing severe arthritis requiring 2 urgent hip replacements. She has 2 young children and is a single mum having split from her ex-partner after domestic violence. She has some support from her aunt and grandmother, both of whom are in poor health and are unable to help with childcare. By this time [time of referral], she was on constant painkillers and struggling to walk at all, making even basic childcare very difficult so the surgery was essential. We were left with the option of trying to refer to social services for emergency foster care which would have been extremely disruptive and distressing (especially given the children's previous experiences of witnessing DV and her son having some behaviour issues and anxiety) when we referred to health equity team, initially I had hoped they might be able to help with some after school activities or child care on ad hoc basis and support for [her] with other household tasks but they supported her to such an extent (helping with food/taking children to and from school every day) that [she] was able to have both hips replaced in a short timeframe and is now able to carry on a much more normal life. Their support was completely invaluable to enable her to access the urgent surgery and healthcare and recovery time that she needed. This is such a good example of how social circumstance impacts so heavily on health and health outcomes and I feel very lucky to practice in an area where we have their support.”

Family feedback:

I started by doing what was necessary then I done what was possible, and suddenly I’m doing the impossible. All thanks to [the Children, Young People and Family Team] who… who helped me see that I can do more than I thought I could when I push myself, and the support they give my daughter is five star and she loves the weekly visits.”

Physical Activity

Our Physical Activity Link Worker is delivering a number of sessions across the East of Gateshead which focus on healthy aging, mental health, managing long term conditions and general health and wellbeing. These sessions not only promote physical activity but encourage social interaction and community connection.

This is a weekly tonic for me, spending time with people and keeping active.”
Patient

We love you coming to do the chair exercises on Fridays, I know we are full on and a bit cheeky, but it’s made a difference to us all.”
Patient

I appreciate you coming every week, it’s something we all look forward to and it keeps me going.”
Patient

You have motivated me to be active and achieve my goals.”
Patient

Even though it’s only been a few months I have noticed a big difference in the residents since you have been coming in to do the activities. They are more active, they move better, and are far more sociable with each other and have lunch together more often.”
Assistant Housing Manager

HOPE Network

The Health of the Population in the East (HOPE) Network brings together voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE), Local Authority, and health organisations. The network builds capacity in the VCSE sector by supporting organisations to understand their role as part of the health and care system, strengthening relationships across different sectors and creating opportunities for collaborative working to promote prevention and early intervention in our communities. The network meets regularly, has over 30 members, and is growing all the time.

The HOPE network is a great way to connect with local groups and creatively think about how we can share resources. It’s a place where we can join up thinking and help all companies, charities and groups achieve their aims and objectives, as a collective but also as individuals. It’s a very warm welcoming network and all ideas are welcomed."
Claire Hills-Wilson, Artistic Director, Lawnmowers

The Trustees of Pelaw Community Bowling Club joined the HOPE network at the outset of its conception. Since that date we have found that the information available from the other local charities, who are members, has proven invaluable for achieving the joint goal of providing diverse facilities for the benefit of the local community. Each charity now has a platform to spread the word of what they are doing, what they are hoping to achieve and how they can be of benefit to the community as a whole. Since we took on our site and became charity we are committed to this goal and have found that it is far more achievable by the combination our strengths, ideas and facilities."
Geoff Dunkley, Trustee at Pelaw Community Bowling Club

Patient Participation

The team are supporting innovative patient participation and primary care access across the East Gateshead Primary Care Network. Work is underway around empowering communities to have a meaningful contribution to tackling health inequalities and a say in how primary care serves them.

Inner West Gateshead

Our Health Equity team offers a range of services for patients who are registered at Whickham Health Centre, Chainbridge Medical Partnership, Glenpark Medical Centre, Sunniside Surgery and Teams Medical Practice (the Inner West Gateshead Primary Care Network).

Physical Activity

Our physical activity link worker delivers a personalised care approach to weight management and frailty. We listen to the concerns of individuals and take the time to understand what matters to them before commencing a bespoke package of support around physical activity and nutritional education.

It’s so refreshing to have a weight management that is based around my needs and without pressure. [The link worker] is friendly and funny personality makes the whole process so much easier. I don't want to leave."

Patient aged 39 who has lost 15kg, reduced waist circumference and lowered blood pressure.

After being told by my local gyms that I was too "high risk" to work with since my motor bike accident and nothing offered from physio or occupational health, I thought that was it until I met [the link worker]. She adapts everyday gym machines so that I am able to use them with success. I feel happier, healthier and look forward to our sessions every week. I only wish we could have more sessions per week."

69 years old patient, who is completing a specialised chair based programme.

Patient Participation, Menopause Cafes, and Volunteering Opportunities

The team is supporting the surgeries in the Inner West Primary Care Network to creatively engage with a broader demographic of patients as we know that populations experiencing health inequalities face more barriers in accessing services. This work supports communities to have a say in how their GP surgeries are ran.

We also deliver a number of menopause cafes across the area bringing individuals together to share their experiences and knowledge of the menopause, whilst also receiving support from primary care clinicians.

Additionally, the team is facilitating volunteering opportunities for patients in the Inner West to come together to inspire community change and help address health inequalities.

I have transformed my social life since having the support to venture back out into the world again. I am working with the link worker to support the running of a new friendship group.”

If you would like to find out more about our Health Equity work, please visit our Facebook page or get in touch.

Health Equity

East Gateshead

Our Children, Young People and Families Team

Feedback from local GP:

Physical Activity

This is a weekly tonic for me, spending time with people and keeping active.”
Patient

I appreciate you coming every week, it’s something we all look forward to and it keeps me going.”
Patient

HOPE Network

Patient Participation

Inner West Gateshead

Physical Activity

Patient aged 39 who has lost 15kg, reduced waist circumference and lowered blood pressure.

69 years old patient, who is completing a specialised chair based programme.

Patient Participation, Menopause Cafes, and Volunteering Opportunities

Additionally, the team is facilitating volunteering opportunities for patients in the Inner West to come together to inspire community change and help address health inequalities.

I have transformed my social life since having the support to venture back out into the world again. I am working with the link worker to support the running of a new friendship group.”

If you would like to find out more about our Health Equity work, please visit our Facebook page or get in touch.