Connected Voice have launched the findings from their 12-month research project, Health Inequalities in the Age of COVID-19 -Towards Fairer Health for Disadvantaged Communities, which Riverside played a major part in supporting.
This research looked at the ways of getting health information, including how to use the NHS and avoid illness, to people who need it most and have the greatest difficulty accessing it. It used the lens of COVID-19 messaging as a way of better understanding effective information sharing.
“The language barrier is still there, the trust issue is still there, so some people can still be isolated. You need to be there to meet the people, to know them, to let them voice their needs … people have ownership when it’s done like that.”
The main findings on health messaging are:
- Accurate health information can be effectively circulated through established trusted connections
- Communication barriers can be broken down through the involvement of communities, organisations and individuals
- Trust and collaboration between people and practitioners enables effective information sharing.
Connected Voice is now working with Collaborative Newcastle, Newcastle Public Health, and the West End Family Primary Care Network to ensure we turn the findings into actions.
Kate Mukungu, Chief Executive of Riverside CHP said:
“It felt really important for Riverside to be part of this research. It was a great opportunity for Riverside staff to work together with people in the community to find out more about the experiences of different groups. Working in partnership through HAREF means we get to spread research findings far and wide and encourage a collective response to peoples’ needs.”
Gabriela Caradonna, Family and Community Practitioner at Riverside said:
“For me being part of the research has gave me the opportunity to be there in helping others to break barriers, to give them the chance to be heard and listened to, in trust and understanding and support.”
Read the report
You can download and read the full report and plain text version below or read the news story at Connected Voice to find out more.
Health Inequalities in the Age of COVID-19 – full report
Health Inequalities in the age of COVID-19 – Plain Text
For more information on the report please contact vicki.harris@connectedvoice.org.uk