ABS and the Health Inequality Agenda

The aim of the ABS is to ensure that any individual with a breast problem receives the very best possible care. Whilst our professional focus tends to be on education and training for our members we must always keep in mind that to deliver the best of care it is essential that we work in partnership with our patients.

Central to this is thinking about how we interact with our patients and their families, how helpful the information we provide to them is, and how we can act to ensure fair and equitable access to great care.
Like our membership, our patients are a diverse group of people from all parts of society. It is a stark reality that significant inequalities still exist leading to some of our patients having reduced access to services and poorer outcomes.

Health inequalities are avoidable, unfair, and systematic differences in health outcomes between different population groups. They are caused by unequal access to resources and opportunities, influenced by factors like income, location, ethnicity, education, and social exclusion. This leads to disparities in life expectancy, disease prevalence, and access to quality healthcare. 

At the recent ABS Executive Board meeting we were inspired by the presentation of Jo Trask about health inequality and how she and the team at Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance are tackling this important issue.

Here is what we can do:

• Educate ourselves about health inequalities and what they are
• Share the brilliant practice that I know is already out there amongst our members

Next Steps

• We are setting up a dedicated Health Inequality section on the ABS website which will be regularly updated with links to resources and training - watch this space
• There will be regular articles in addressing different types of health inequality over the next few months 
• We aim to embed health inequalities into the agenda of ABS events with sessions at our annual conferences
• A survey of members about Health Inequality and what resources and educational content they would like to see on the website/conference will be circulated - Please look out for this in future communications.
• Please consider undertaking this short Health Inequality training programme developed by Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance. It is FREE and will take around an hour of your time. It will be an hour well spent.

Carol-Ann Courtney, Ordinary Trustee