Health inequalities
Health inequalities are avoidable and unjustified differences in the health and wellbeing of groups and individuals – they are not inevitable or immutable. Health equity means that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible.
Reducing health inequalities is a shared responsibility that affects everyone, not only those experiencing them first hand. These disparities are part of a broader systemic issue that influences the health and wellbeing of communities and the entire country. Addressing them effectively demands coordinated action from multiple stakeholders, including government bodies, healthcare professionals, community groups, and individuals.
Health inequalities and equity programme
The Lewisham Health Inequalities and Health Equity Programme 2022-24 aimed to strengthen local health and wellbeing partnerships across the system and communities to enable equitable access, experience and outcomes for Lewisham residents, particularly those from Black and other racially minoritised communities.
The programme had eight concurrent and intersecting workstreams, with each workstream having specific projects delivered through partnerships and collaboration.
Key programme objectives:
- system leadership, understanding, action and accountability for health equity
- empowered communities at the heart of decision making and delivery
- identifying and scaling-up what works
- establish foundation for new Lewisham Health and Wellbeing Strategy
- prioritisation and implementation of the 39 opportunities for action from Birmingham and Lewisham African Caribbean Health Inequalities Review (BLACHIR)
The programme included eight workstreams:
- Equitable preventative, community and acute physical and mental health services
- Health equity teams
- Community development
- Communities of practice
- Workforce toolbox
- Maximising data
- Evaluation
- Programme enablement and oversight
Programme work
Projects from each of the eight workstreams mainly stemmed from workstreams 1 and 2 and included:
- culturally tailored weight management programme
- addressing inequalities in elective surgery waiting lists
- CommUNITY space (a wellbeing and physical activity hub providing physical activity sessions, and advice support)
- smokefree pregnancies - reducing rates of smoking in pregnancy
- implementation of BLACHIR opportunities for action
BLACHIR
In 2022, Lewisham and Birmingham councils published the Birmingham and Lewisham African and Caribbean Health Inequalities Review (BLACHIR), exploring health inequalities experienced by Black African and Caribbean communities. The aim was to find sustainable approaches to break decades of inequity. The review set out clear opportunities for action (OFAS) identified in the BLACHIR report which were implemented throughout the Lewisham Health Inequalities and Health Equity Programme.
Since the launch in 2022, there have been a number of successes reported in the BLACHIR 2 years on report.
Programme continuation
Although the initial programme was funded from 2022 to 2024, several projects have continued to receive support beyond this period. This sustained funding is a testament to the programme’s success in addressing health inequalities and creating meaningful, measurable change. What began as a time-limited initiative has now become embedded within local systems, demonstrating a strong legacy and an ongoing commitment to reducing health disparities and improving population health outcomes.
Health Equity Teams
As part of the Health Inequalities Programme, six organisations were commissioned to partner with all six Lewisham Primary Care Networks (PCNs) to address health inequalities and achieve health equity. These organisations worked with Lewisham Health Equity Fellows to co-produce local projects based on the BLACHIR report. Teams were tasked with supporting work to address health inequalities around heart attacks and strokes (cardiovascular disease (CVD) affecting Lewisham’s diverse populations and to improve health equity in Lewisham. The first cycle ran from 2022 to 2024.
The six Health Equity teams
The six Health Equity teams formed from cycle one were:
- North Lewisham PCN and Red Ribbon Living well (VCSO)
- Modality and Therapy 4 Healing
- Aplos Health and Action for Community Development (AfCD)
- Sevenfileds PCN and Social Life
- The Lewisham Care Partnership and 360 Lifestyle
- Lewisham Alliance PCN and Holistic Well women
An evaluation of Health Equity Teams formed Programme Cycle 1 was completed by the Health Innovation Network South London, and Centric Community Research. The evaluation found impacts of Cycle 1 including:
- opportunities for Black-led organisations to contribute to NHS service delivery, improving outcomes for residents
- improving access by bringing healthcare to the community
- reinvigorating Lewisham Primary Care Network’s focus on addressing health inequalities
Read the Health Equity Teams cycle 1 evaluation report.
Cycle 2 of Health Equity Teams runs from 2025 to May 2027.
Cycle two
The Health Equity Teams programme has been recommissioned for a second cycle, running from October 2025 to March 2027, as part of Lewisham’s long-term Integrated Neighbourhood Team (INT) vision.
This cycle continues the mission to reduce cardiovascular inequalities in Black and underserved communities in Lewisham. Each of the six primary care networks hosts a health equity team, comprising a Black-led voluntary and community sector organisation (VCSO) and a GP health equity fellow (HEF). Together, they co-produce and lead projects to improve access and equity-focused quality improvement in four key cardiovascular areas:
- atrial fibrillation (AF)
- hypertension (HTN)
- chronic kidney disease (CKD)
- type 2 diabetes (T2DM)
What’s new in cycle two:
- integration with INTs: now embedded into Lewisham’s Integrated Neighbourhood Team model
- expanded infrastructure: community link workers introduced to support proactive engagement with residents
- stronger foundations: clearer performance indicators with a focus on long-term impact, evaluation, and scalability
- equity and inclusion: embedding trauma-informed, anti-racist approaches and addressing wider social determinants of health
- long-term goals: cycle two aims to embed sustainable improvements in primary care by raising awareness of health equity among all staff, fostering a legacy of health equity leaders, and demonstrating measurable clinical outcomes for Lewisham residents
Cycle two health equity teams:
- Modality: Therapy for Healing
- Aplos: Africa Advocacy Foundation
- Sevenfields: Diversity Health and Wellbeing
- NLPCN: Red Ribbon
- LA: Coco Collective
- TLCP: Mabadaliko
Projects range from health events, gardening programmes and walking groups to group consultations and peer support networks. We are training community champions to deliver blood pressure and kidney checks in trusted spaces like barber shops, gardens, and faith venues. GP practices are improving ethnicity coding, reviews, and hypertension management to ensure care is more inclusive, accessible and sustainable.
In the summer of 2025, health professionals, community leaders and local partners gathered at the Albany in Deptford to celebrate the achievements of the programme. Read more about the health inequalities event on our news page.
Get involved
If you'd like more information about reducing Health Inequalities in Lewisham, or you'd like to get involved, email: healthinequalities@lewisham.gov.uk.