A survey of NHS trust leaders has shown that driving change to tackle unequal healthcare experiences and outcomes is high on the day-to-day business plan for the NHS.

With trusts now committed to taking action on health inequalities as part of their 'core business’, NHS Providers is calling for an ‘honest debate’ about the wider picture and the need for cross-government action.

The organisation’s new report found high board-level commitment and strategic emphasis on tackling health inequalities and a commitment to making action on health inequalities 'core business'.

However, trust leaders described several barriers to progress with 65 per cent saying that wider pressures on the system and operational challenges hinder their ability to progress work on reducing health inequalities. Nearly half of trust leaders expressed concerns about the lack of access to data about health inequalities within trusts (49 per cent) and across the health system (48 per cent).

Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, said: "The NHS is united in tackling health inequalities and committed to lasting change. Our commitment to addressing unfair, avoidable differences in people’s access to, experiences of and outcomes from health services is strong and getting stronger. Trusts are at different starting points but are clear that this is a priority in a complex and challenging environment.

"The Covid-19 pandemic heightened already existing health inequalities across England and galvanised action to tackle the inequalities faced by marginalised and vulnerable communities. Now we can build on lessons learned from the pandemic, but the scale of the challenge is clear.

"Trusts have a vital role to play in working together effectively with partners across the health system to improve access and to narrow gaps in health equality, and as anchor institutions are committed to playing their part in the wider determinants of health. To cement that long-term commitment as part of their day-to-day business, trusts need consistency and clarity on a national scale and a supportive infrastructure and regulatory environment which rewards progress on health inequalities as much as it does good operational and financial performance."