Unequal pandemic, fairer recovery: The COVID-19 impact inquiry report

Abstract

Unequal pandemic, fairer recovery: The COVID-19 impact inquiry report 2 48 5. The experiences of some groups disproportionately affected by the pandemic Some groups have faced disproportionate hardship and poorer health outcomes than others. This section looks at how the pandemic has affected the lives of four groups: care home residents, disabled people, ethnic minority communities and young people. 6. Public perceptions of COVID-19 and health inequalitiesTo inform this inquiry, the Health Foundation worked with consulting company Kantar Public to explore public attitudes to, and experiences of, health inequalities and the pandemic. 7. Recovery: risks and opportunitiesThe pandemic risks casting a long shadow over the nation's future health. This section highlights the main risks and how these might be mitigated. 8. ConclusionsThe conclusions of the inquiry point to the need for action in two main areas. First, immediate action to address the harm caused by the pandemic. Second, supporting longer term change to prevent future deterioration of health. References 79Acknowledgements 91 * Excess deaths measure additional deaths over a time period compared with the number of deaths usually expected. We measure the deaths caused by the pandemic in excess deaths instead of registered COVID-19 deaths due to discrepancies in the way COVID-19 deaths are recorded.Unequal pandemic, fairer recovery: The COVID-19 impact inquiry report 5 Changes to the determinants of health 4 * This information was provided by Nadine Smith who conducted interviews with workers at Changing Lives charity as part of research commissioned by the Health Foundation.

Health and social care funding projections 2021

“…The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the mental health of the population, through reduced social interaction, health impacts, income loss, bereavement and economic uncertainty. 49 This can be observed in levels of wellbeing across society, with the ONS finding lower levels of happiness overall. 50 We use modelling from the Strategy Unit (see the detailed model online 51 ) to estimate the impact of the pandemic on certain at risk groups.…”

The NHS Long Term Plan and COVID-19: Assessing progress and the pandemic’s impact

“…5 The negative impact on people's finances and wellbeing has been felt most acutely by the most socioeconomically disadvantaged, younger people, and the self-employed. 6 The disruption to health and care staff and services has been severe. At the peaks of the pandemic, many NHS staff were redeployed to care for COVID-19 patients.…”

A whole-government approach to improving health

“…The inextricable link between health and wealth has been made more prominent by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has laid bare the consequences of underlying poor health in the UK. 1 Even before the pandemic, poor underlying health placed limitations on people's daily lives, and their ability to work and contribute to the economy. As part of the nation's recovery, a new cross-government focus is needed to address these longstanding issues.…”