East Riding of Yorkshire Council covers a largely rural area which includes the towns of Bridlington and Beverley. Just over 20,000 residents live in localities which are in the 10 per cent most deprived areas of England, with most of them in parts of Bridlington, Withernsea and Goole.
Data shows clear inequalities in health outcomes associated with deprivation level. For example, life expectancy for male residents in the most deprived ward, Bridlington South, is 72 years – nine years younger than for those living in the least deprived ward, South Hunsley (81 years). For females, the difference between the most and least deprived wards is five years. Bridlington South also has the lowest percentage of population reporting good or very good health, at 70.2 per cent (compared to 86.6 per cent in the least deprived area).
East Riding of Yorkshire’s Inclusion Health Service was launched in response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on communities. It brings together council services including public health, leisure, libraries and housing, as well as partners such as the Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust, the Food Poverty Alliance, the food bank network and other community groups and organisations.
An important asset of the service is the Inclusion Health Vehicle, which provides outreach for residents who experience barriers in accessing primary health care. It visits community venues, food banks and rural areas to provide health protection and health promotion support, including:
- healthcare equity and access to health services
- health promotion, education and effective communication
- screening and early identification/response to health conditions
- addressing the wider determinants of health to reduce early onset of harm and protection of health
- protecting the vulnerable
- creating healthier communities.
The Inclusion Health Service, including the specialist vehicle, is run by Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust, which holds the contract for the council’s integrated addictions and inclusion health service.
The service has had success in its outreach work with communities including homeless people, drug and alcohol users with chaotic and non-engaging presentations, prison leavers and people seeking asylum. It was set up quickly and reactively in response to the pandemic, without a full needs assessment being in place. So, in 2023, East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s public health team began work on an inclusion health needs assessment, due to be completed in November 2024.