Health inequalities are not a healthcare problem. From educators to policymakers, we all need to learn more about the social determinants and what we can do about them. By working together, we can tackle the root causes, inspire meaningful change, and make our region fairer for everyone.
Together we can build a fairer, healthier Cheshire and Merseyside
2.7M
People call the Cheshire and Merseyside region home.
33%
Of Cheshire and Merseyside population live in the most deprived 20% of
neighbourhoods in England.
12 Years
Lower life expectancy in Cheshire and Merseyside’s most deprived areas compared to the least deprived.
Fairer societies, through the Marmot Themes
Health is largely shaped by the social, economic and environmental conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age known as the social determinants of health. The social determinants of health are encompassed by the 8 Marmot themes.
Theme 1
Give every child the best start in life.
Theme 2
Enable all children, young people and adults to maximise their capabilities and have control over their lives.
Theme 3
Create fair employment and good work for all.
Theme 4
Ensure a healthy standard of living for all.
Theme 5
Create and develop healthy and sustainable places and communities.
Theme 6
Strengthen the role and impact of ill-health prevention.
Theme 7
Tackle racism, discrimination and their outcomes.
Theme 8
Pursue environmental sustainability and health equity together.
Our three overarching principles for 2024-29
As outlined in All Together Fairer: Our Health and Care Partnership Strategy 2024-29, we are focusing on three overarching principles to facilitate a positive change in health equity and social determinants of health in Cheshire and Merseyside.
Shifting Investment to Prevention and Equity
The Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership will:
- Increase the budget going towards the social determinants of health and the promotion of good health by 1% every year over the next 5 years.
- Develop and implement an allocation strategy that supports the best use of resources to reduce inequalities and improve population outcomes at a neighbourhood level.
- Ensure that the resourcing and delivery of services is universal at scale, and at an intensity proportionate to need.
Anti-Poverty Work
The Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership will:
- Organise and promote activity that alleviates the immediate impacts of poverty.
- Organise and promote activity that supports people to access the benefits to which they are entitled.
- Promote activity that increases access to sustainable employment or work-related opportunities.
- Tackle in-work poverty by requiring the implementation of the Real Living Wage and fair employment practices across Health and Care Partnership Organisations and their contracted services.
Health and Equity in All We Do
The Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership will:
- Demonstrate health and equity in all policies and service provision.
For example:- In our planning policies altering physical surroundings, urban layouts, building design and renewal, housing quality, affordability and density, parks and recreation facilities, roads, paths and transport and the provision of other amenities, such as seating and toilets.
- Work to support transport arrangements to increase equity in the ability to access services e.g. taking mobile services to communities.
Get the latest health inequalities news from the North West
To learn more about the latest health inequalities news from the North West of England, sign up to the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities North West Healthy Places & Wider Determinants Newsletter by emailing NWHWB@dhsc.gov.uk.
Leadership and governance
The All Together Fairer Programme is managed through the Champs Support Team and is accountable to the Cheshire and Merseyside Population Health Partnership, currently chaired by Professor Ian Ashworth, on behalf of the subregion’s Directors of Public Health.
The Cheshire and Merseyside All Together Fairer Board has oversight of the work, and day-to-day operations are led by the Cheshire and Merseyside All Together Fairer Leads Group.
Alan Higgins
Strategic Lead
We’re here to inspire you
All Together Inspired has been created to catalyse and align action across the region, and boost the work All Together Fairer is doing. Shared effort towards shared goals are essential in breaking down the inequalities stifling our subregion’s potential.
By collaborating across sectors and sharing insights and expertise, we can do so much more than is possible alone. So if you have something to offer, don’t keep it to yourself. Use this website to connect with other leaders and professionals, and access information and resources that will empower you as you go.