Tackling inequality in Milton Keynes: the Denny Review
Background: What is the Denny Review?
The Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Health Inequalities Review, also known as the Denny Review, was commissioned during the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic.
During 2020, evidence showed that while the effects of the virus were felt by all, people from ethnic minorities were disproportionately affected. A review of the published evidence both in the local area and nationally was commissioned from the University of Sheffield to establish what is known about health inequalities. Local voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE), including the four local Healthwatch organisations, engaged directly with local residents, particularly those from under-represented groups.
The Denny Review investigates health inequalities in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK) in their wider sense. Wider determinants of health, such as housing, poverty and education, have a considerable and measurable impact on health, and are considered as part of this review.
In Milton Keynes we worked in partnership with YMCA and Community Action:MK to listen to the experiences of residents in our community who are often described in the health care world as ‘seldom heard’. This included people from ethnic minorities, people with physical and learning disabilities, LGBTQI+ people, and those living in areas affected by poverty.
Why is the Denny Review different?
The Denny Review comes from the people of Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes. It is the result of intense engagement with residents, much of which has taken place inside communities that feel forgotten, underrepresented, and left behind. The true test in assessing the success of the response to the Report will be whether those individuals who shared their story with us begin, over time, to feel like health and care services 'are for them'. The Report calls for NHS system leaders to respond with with action, not words.
Our contribution
The Denny Review asked us to carry out research into the health inequalities experienced by seldom heard group and minority communities across Milton Keynes.
Read our research report into inequality in Milton Keynes
Together with Community Action:MK and YMCA Milton Keynes, our findings contributed to the final overall report into health inequalities. The lived experiences of more than 2,000 local people who experienced health inequalities were heard through a range of surveys, case studies and detailed discovery interviews.
Recommendations
The Denny Review recommendations fit into four groups: access, communication, representation and cultural competency. They are grouped in two time-frames: short and longer term.
Here are some of the recommendations made in the Denny Review, that specifically link to our own work:
- GP practices should review their procedures to stop residents being wrongly stopped from registering, potentially denying them access to essential health services. Practices must ensure they meet Primary Medical Care Policy and Guidance, and that national policy is 'uniformly and rigorously applied'.
- Collaborate to implement a universal translation service for BLMK that provides consistency across all NHS provider organisations.
- Training rolled out to all health and care settings to support with language, and understanding the needs of residents, including different ethnicities, those with physical and learning disabilities, and LGBTQI+ people. This will help to address perceptions of cultural bias / racism which was a consistent theme within community engagement and can build on current patient participation.
Other contributing research
YMCA Milton Keynes – The Denny Review Health Inequalities
Engaging with young people (age 18-35) who live at the YMCA in Milton Keynes.
Community Action: MK – Research Project for the Denny Review
Engaging with ethnic minority groups and Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, people living in deprived neighbourhoods, people with disability, people experiencing homelessness, migrants, and people who are LGBTQ+ in Milton Keynes.
Summary of the findings from engaging with Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, people from ethnic minorities living in deprived areas, people with a learning or physical disability living in deprived areas, homeless people, migrants and people identifying at LGBTQI+ in Milton Keynes.
Read the full Denny Review
What happens next
This report and recommendations will be presented to the BLMK Integrated Care Board for their response. We are expecting them to set out plans to address their next steps, and we will update this web page in November 2023.
