Health Inequity
Overview
At the Association of Breast Surgery, our aim is to ensure that every individual with a breast concern receives the highest standard of care. Achieving this means not only advancing the education and training of our members but also working in genuine partnership with our patients and their families. As a diverse community, we recognise that significant and avoidable health inequities persist - inequalities that limit access to vital services and contribute to poorer outcomes for some groups. These disparities, shaped by factors such as income, geography, ethnicity, education, and social exclusion, represent unfair and systematic barriers to good health. By understanding and addressing these challenges, we are committed to promoting fair, equitable access to high-quality breast care for all.
Below you will find information and resources to help address health inequities in your practice.
If you have any resources or information on tackling health inequities you would like to share on this page or would like to discuss an idea with us in more detail, please email JamesHewison@absgbi.org.uk
Statements and Information
Tackling Health Inequities - Advocate. Educate. Integrate.
The Association of Breast Surgery (ABS) is committed to recognising and tackling health inequities to ensure that the patients we represent have access to excellent, equitable and inclusive care, regardless of their background, circumstances or individual needs.
We recognise that health inequities impact both our patients and our members.
We aspire to be an Association where equity is embedded in every decision, every opportunity, every patient interaction, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to achieve the best possible outcomes.
As a professional organisation, we have a responsibility to champion fairness, remove avoidable barriers and embed equity throughout our clinical practice, education, research and organisational culture.
Our approach will be guided by three core principles:
Advocate
We will advocate for equitable access to high-quality breast care for all patients and champion policies and practices that reduce health inequities across breast services.
Educate
We will educate and support our members by raising awareness of health inequities, sharing best practice, and promoting inclusive approaches to patient care, education, training and research.
Integrate
Health equity will be embedded within every aspect of the Association’s work. Each ABS subcommittee will appoint a Health Inequities Champion who will ensure that equity considerations are incorporated into committee activities, governance, research and strategic planning.
Our Commitment
ABS is committed to creating an inclusive organisation where all members have equitable access to educational resources, training opportunities, committee participation and leadership roles. Wherever reasonably practicable, we will make adjustments that enable all members to participate fully in the work of the Association.
Health Inequities Champions will work collaboratively with committee Chairs, the ABS Executive and the ABS administrative team to ensure equity is considered routinely rather than exceptionally. Their role is to encourage practical, proportionate and achievable improvements that become part of everyday practice.
Examples may include:
- Ensuring educational events and courses are held in accessible venues.
- Providing reasonable adjustments for members with hearing impairment, physical disability, dyslexia or neurodivergence.
- Making educational materials available in accessible formats where appropriate.
- Promoting inclusive committee participation and representation.
- Encouraging research that improves recruitment and participation of underserved populations in clinical studies.
- Considering the impact of committee decisions on patients and professionals who may experience health inequities.
The role of the Health Inequities Champion is intended to be supportive rather than burdensome. It is centred on identifying practical and pragmatic opportunities to improve accessibility, inclusion and equity through simple, reasonable adjustments that make a meaningful difference for our members and the patients they serve.
Carol-Ann Courtney, ABS Ordinary Trustee, outlines ABS plans to tackling health inequities.
Please take a few minutes to complete this survey to help the ABS understand what work is currently being undertaken to tackle health inequities. This survey will help us provide resources and training to help members address this important issue.
This statement provided by NHS England provides guidance on health inequalities and how to take an evidence-driven approach to tackling health inequalities.
Health Inequities Resources
The 123 Approach to health inequalities has been developed by the Chesire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance to empower NHS staff to understand and tackle health inequalities. They offer free training courses and resources to help support NHS Staff to understand and tackle health inequalities.
Useful information, resources and personal stories are available on the Health Inclusion Resource Hub from Prevent Breast Cancer, including awareness materials in difference languages.
Articles and News
Shades of Survival is a multi-award-winning documentary exploring the experiences of Black women with breast cancer and the health inequities they face across the UK, continental Africa and the USA.
The documentary has been made available to view for ABS members throughout October 2026.
Miss Tasmia Tahmid, Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon, outlines The Pathfinder Blueprint for community triage. This model is designed to tackle the health inequality in breast cancer diagnosis among women from minoritised ethnic groups.
ABS Trustee, Carol-Ann Courtney, reflects on how working in greater partnership with patients can tackle health inequities in breast cancer care.
