Following the release of the Public Health England review
into disparities in the risks and outcomes of COVID-19, the
Government’s Equality Hub is today (4th June
2020) setting out how this work will be taken forward.
The work will be led by the Equalities Minister, , and supported by other
government departments and agencies.
Minister for Equalities, , said:
“This government is rightly taking seriously the
initial findings from the PHE report published earlier
this week. However, it is also clear that much more
needs to be done to understand the key drivers of the disparities
identified and the relationships between the different
risk factors.
“That is why I am now taking this work forward,
which will enable us to make a real difference to people’s
lives and protect our communities from the impact of the
coronavirus.”
The full terms of reference for this work will be as
follows:
· Review
the effectiveness and impact of current actions being undertaken
by relevant government departments and their agencies to directly
lessen disparities in infection and death rates of COVID-19.
Factors to be considered – but aren’t limited to – should include
age and sex, occupation, obesity, comorbidities, geography,
and ethnicity;
· Modifications
to existing, or development of new policy, should be considered
and discussed with the relevant Ministers responsible. This
ongoing work will include looking at the extensive guidance that
is already currently available;
· Commission
further data, research and analytical work by the Equality Hub to
clarify the scale, and drivers, of the gaps in evidence
highlighted by the Report;
· Consider
where and how the collection and quality of data into the
disparities highlighted can be improved on, and take action to do
so, working with the Equality Hub, government departments and
their agencies;
· Lead
engagement on the disparities highlighted with Departmental
Ministers;
· Build
on and expand the stakeholder engagement undertaken by PHE
to consolidate and develop the qualitative
insights gained and how they may support further actions that
should be taken to address the disparities highlighted;
· Strengthen
and improve public health communications to ensure they
can reach all communities across the
country;
· Provide
quarterly updates to the Prime Minister and Secretary of State
for Health and Social Care on progress being made to address
health inequalities by departments and their agencies.
Earlier today, the Minister for Equalities answered an
Urgent Question in the House of Commons before answering detailed
questions from members on a range of issues related to the PHE
review.
Further Information:
· To
support the Minister for Equalities in fulfilling these
Terms of Reference, the Race Disparity Unit in the Equalities Hub
(Cabinet Office) will work with MfE directly. They will be
supported by officials in PHE and other departments or agencies
as relevant to take this forward.
· The
Equality Hub sits in the Cabinet Office and is made up of
officials working for the Government Equalities Office, Race
Disparity Unit and Disability Unit
· The
full PHE review can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-review-of-disparities-in-risks-and-outcomes
