Health

Tackling inequalities often not a main priority in healthcare, says CQC

Tackling inequalities was “often not a main priority” for local health and care systems over the past year, the care regulator for England has said.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said the pandemic had exposed and exacerbated inequalities, and most services demonstrated some understanding of these.

But it found that tackling inequalities “was often not a main priority for systems, or strategies to identify and tackle health inequalities were not yet well established”. Issues included poor accessibility of information in different languages for some people, varying service provision and access, and a lack of understanding of how people’s individual characteristics affected the care they needed.

The regulator said an example of this was the specific needs of people with a learning disability from black and minority ethnic groups. It also flagged that an increase in remote or digital care could be a barrier to people who cannot access technology or do not feel comfortable doing so.

The report comes as the government announces a £162.5m workforce retention and recruitment fund in an effort to hire and retain workers for the sector.

The ringfenced funding, available through the winter until the end of March, will help local authorities and care providers to go on a recruitment drive. It will also help with overtime payments, and support occupational health teams through a potentially grim winter.

The report found inequalities had also been exposed by the coronavirus vaccine rollout, with take-up lower in all minority ethnic groups compared with in the white population, and variances according to levels of deprivation.

The annual state of care report says: “Providers and representatives from the voluntary and community sector have told us that recovery needs to focus on addressing health inequalities, particularly those that were amplified by the pandemic. However, there were some concerns that a focus on waiting list backlogs for elective care will put the emphasis on clearing these at pace, instead of on where the need is greatest.”

The CQC said better use of data to understand the needs of people locally, and better NHS trust patient records and linkage with primary care data, could help reduce inequality.

It noted an NHS target that by 2024 three-quarters of women from black and minority ethnic groups – who tend to have poorer outcomes in childbirth – should receive care from the same person during pregnancy, birth and postnatal.

It said just half of the nine services it visited where it had concerns had active continuity of carer teams providing support to women identified as higher risk at the time of inspection. It said teams had been put on hold or disbanded, primarily owing to pandemic staffing issues.

The regulator said engagement by maternity services was often not targeted towards women from black and minority ethnic groups, and a lack of funding was a “major challenge to meaningful engagement”.

Jabeer Butt, the chief executive of the Race Equality Foundation, said it was “deeply worrying” that the regulator had said tackling inequalities was not often a main priority.

“Equally worrying is that many health inequalities are longstanding, with some evidence that action to address these has only been partially implemented,” he said. “It is deeply disappointing that while targets were set for ensuring pregnant black and minority ethnic women received continuity of care, the CQC found that only small numbers of women received this support and in some areas the teams were ‘put on hold or disbanded’.”

The CQC also found that the physical healthcare needs of people with a learning disability were not always taken into account. Some people struggled with access to services, which caused them distress and in some cases led to their health deteriorating.

In one care home for people with autism and/or learning disabilities, there was no assessment to consider what adaptations may be required to meet new residents’ needs. Residents were told they were being “silly” and incident reports said people were “whingeing” and “having paddies”.

The CQC said providers and systems would need to understand and manage the impact of the pandemic on people with a learning disability. “This includes ensuring that any health inequalities and specific needs relating to protected characteristics such as ethnicity, age and gender are part of a system-wide strategy,” it said.

Health

Yobe confirms 4 new polio cases

The Yobe Government has confirmed four new cases of polio in three Local Government Areas three years after the state was declared polio-free.

The Executive Secretary of the State Primary Healthcare Board, Dr Babagana Kundi-Machina, made this disclosure while launching a campaign against the disease in Machina, a border LGA with Niger Republic, on Saturday.

He said that the State Government, in collaboration with its partners, had launched a state-wide outbreak response and vaccination exercise to address the situation.

“It is unfortunate that after three years of being certified polio-free, we have recorded a circulating polio virus outbreak in Bursari, Machina, and Yusufari LGAs,” Kundi-Machina said.

The State Coordinator of the World Health Organisation, WHO, Dr Hamisu Alhassan, pledged the organisation’s support to the state toward curbing the outbreak.

He called on the public to adopt preventive measures, including personal and environmental hygiene, hand washing, and immunisation to boost immunity and promote good health, especially among women and children.

On his part, the Emir of Machina, Alhaji Bashir Machinama, urged his people to cooperate with the government by accepting the vaccine.

Machinama thanked the State Government for its prompt response and pledged to sensitise his community to take relevant steps to contain the disease.

Health

Cholera kills 11 in Ebonyi

A cholera outbreak in Ndibokote village, located in the Ezza Inyimagu area of Izzi Local Government, has claimed the lives of 10 people, including a nursing mother who leaves behind a nine-month-old baby.

The outbreak, confirmed by Ebonyi State Health Commissioner Dr. Moses Ekuma through a statement issued by ministry spokesperson Lucy Anyim, has affected approximately 20 others who are currently receiving treatment. Health officials are working diligently to contain the disease and prevent further spread in the community.

Dr. Ekuma noted that Governor Francis Nwifuru has approved the procurement of essential medical supplies to manage the crisis.

Additionally, three treatment centers have been established in the affected area, including Iziogo Health Centre, Sudan Mission Onuenyim, and a facility in Ndibokote village.

Open defecation and poor hygiene practices, along with reliance on stream water for drinking, are believed to be contributing factors to the outbreak.

Residents have been urged to follow precautionary measures to reduce the risk of further infections. Health authorities are on high alert to ensure the situation remains under control.

Health

Fubara approves employment of 2,000 Medical personnel

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has approved the recruitment of 2,000 medical personnel and the payment of three years’ outstanding scholarship entitlements for medical students.

A press statement issued by Nelson Chukwudi, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, highlighted Fubara’s dedication to reversing the decline in academic standards in the state.

The Governor noted that in previous years, Rivers children were highly regarded for their academic excellence, a reputation that has since diminished due to the growing reward for mediocrity. Fubara vowed to restore this legacy.

Upon assuming office, Fubara said he was confronted with unpaid scholarship entitlements for medical students at the Rivers State University and that without hesitation, he authorized the release of funds, ensuring that students could continue their studies without frustration.

The Governor made these remarks during a courtesy visit by the accreditation panel of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), led by its Registrar, Dr. Fatima Kyari, at the Government House in Port Harcourt.

The delegation also included key officials from Rivers State University and the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Chidinma Oreh.

Fubara emphasized the importance of infrastructure and support for academic growth, aiming to restore Rivers State’s status as a hub for educational excellence.

He expressed his disappointment in the current societal trend of valuing cultism over intellectual achievement but reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to change this narrative.

During the meeting, Fubara also noted that 1,000 medical personnel would be employed through the Rivers State Health Management Board, while the remaining 1,000 would be engaged by the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH).

He reiterated his commitment to promoting quality medical training and explained that his administration understands the financial challenges associated with medical education.

Dr. Fatima Kyari, speaking on behalf of MDCN, lauded the state’s commitment to infrastructure and training, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a high standard of medical education. She encouraged the state to further develop research opportunities to compete on a global scale.

Prof. Nlerum Okogbule, Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University, expressed gratitude to Governor Fubara for his unprecedented support, stating that the university is now a top choice in Nigeria and that the College of Medical Sciences has significantly boosted its national and international reputation.