What COVID-19 has taught us about social inequities and the urgent need for systemic change

Wright, Toni; Sah, Rajeeb Kumar; Keys, Clare; Nanayakkara, Gowri; Onyejekwe, Chisa

Abstract

This paper critically comments on the state of affairs in the UK relating to the pandemic and explores how a focus on inequities experienced by marginalized and vulnerable groups is necessary for exposing the material realties of everyday life, but also how such a focus has been hijacked by center right politics to distract us from collective responsibilities and building alliances for systemic change. The paper critically reviews the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the most marginalized and vulnerable in UK society and highlights the interconnected risk factors of COVID-19 and its secondary impacts to demonstrate how these are linked to political ideology, policy, and practice. We conclude with recommendations informed through a looking back at the key tenants and purposes of universal healthcare to apprise what is needed in this moment of crisis and beyond.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 2, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Oct 29, 2021
• Publication Date: Jan 18, 2022
• Deposit Date: May 18, 2022
• Journal: Public Health Nursing
• Print ISSN: 0737-1209
• Electronic ISSN: 1525-1446
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 39
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 344-349
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/phn.13001
• Keywords: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health; General Nursing
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/9326463
• Related Public URLs: https://repository.canterbury.ac.uk/item/8y705/what-covid-19-has-taught-us-about-social-inequities-and-the-urgent-need-for-systemic-change
• Additional Information: Received: 2021-05-06; Accepted: 2021-09-02; Published: 2021-10-29