NHIP Lightening Talk: Unequal Pandemic: COVID-19 and Health Inequalities
13/09/2021 2:00 pm to 13/09/2021 2:30 pm
Event Details
Recent estimates show evidence of inequalities in COVID-19 infection and mortality rates in the UK. Your chances of catching and dying from COVID-19 depend on:
- Your socio-economic status
- Your ethnicity
- Your location
However, inequalities during pandemics are not a new phenomenon. Research from the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918, and the H1N1 outbreak of 2009 both showed similar effects. The role of inequalities in the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out is yet to be reported.
In our next NHIP Lightning talk we will discuss that inequalities are not limited to COVID-19.
Our speakers: Clare Bambra and Tom Hall will examine the relationship to existing inequalities in chronic diseases and the social determinants of health. Something which is leading experts in the field to argue that we are experiencing a syndemic pandemic.
The central mission of the NHIP is to address health inequalities in our region. We invite you to join our discussion on how can we drive the changes needed in public health policy to ensure a more equitable future.
Speakers
Clare Bambra (PhD, FAcSS) is Professor of Public Health at Newcastle University. She is an interdisciplinary social scientist working at the interface of public health policy, health geography and social epidemiology.
Her mixed methods research focuses on understanding and reducing health inequalities. She is a Senior Investigator in several large collaborations. She led the:
Independent SAGE report on Covid-19 and Health InequalitiesNHSA report on Covid-19 in the NorthCo-leads a Health Foundation Grant on Covid-19 and Health Inequalities. She is a Director of the Equal England: Health Inequalities Knowledge Exchange Network and she works regularly with policy and practice organisations including the NHS, Local Authorities, Public Health England, European Union and WHO.
Tom Hall is Director of Public Health (DPH) at South Tyneside Council. Tom is an experienced Public Health specialist and has been South Tyneside’s Director of Public Health since 2017. He is the Lead Officer for the Health & Wellbeing Board and Strategic lead for the implementation of the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy. Tom plays a key role in the South Tyneside Alliance, developing an integrated health and care system and leads A Whole Council Public Health approach.
Tom is one of two DPHs in the region linked to the North East and Cumbria Clinical Research Network School of Public Health, with the aim of promoting research in Local Authorities. Tom is also the Deputy Director (Practice) for the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) North East and North Cumbria (NENC) Health Inequalities and Marginalised Communities Theme.