Olubukola Ayodele, Breast Cancer Lead at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“Why do health inequalities matter?
Because where you live, the color of your skin, your background, and your access to information should never determine whether you live or die.
Yet, for many, it still does.
On Wednesday 15th April, I joined over 250 health professionals, researchers, and community representatives at the Together We Can 2026: Summit for Health Equality at the University of Leicester, hosted by University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust. A powerful reminder that tackling inequalities is not a side conversation in healthcare; it should be The conversation.
We were challenged from the start to reflect on what we truly understand about health equality, and more importantly, what we are doing about it. I had the privilege of sharing work close to my heart: improving breast cancer outcomes for Black women in Leicester. We uncovered a stark reality: Black women in Leicester are five times less likely to engage with breast services, including screening and urgent referral pathways.
That is not just a statistic. That is delayed diagnoses, advanced disease, and lives unnecessarily lost.
But alongside the challenge comes opportunity. Through focus groups and engaging with the community we’ve been able to gather insight into why this is happening and co-design tangible interventions. Our next step is clear, facilitated by The Health Creation Alliance, we plan to establish a dedicated peer support community for Black women diagnosed with breast cancer in Leicester. A safe space for shared experiences, trust, and empowerment. This work has been sponsored by Novartis UK.
In the afternoon, I also had the opportunity to co-facilitate a breakout session on community engagement with Kirit Mistry and Courtney Nangle, where I shared four practical toolkits I’ve designed to help bridge the gap between healthcare systems and the communities they serve. Real change happens when communities are not just included, but centred.
The energy in the room was undeniable. A collective recognition that:
- Inequalities are avoidable
- Inequalities are unjust
- And together, they are solvable
From inspiring keynote reflections to honest conversations, one message stood out:
We may be diverse, but we are one.
A huge thank you to the organisers and everyone who contributed to such an impactful day. This is how change begins, with collaboration, courage, and community. Now the real work continues.”
Other Articles Featuring Olubukola Ayodele On OncoDaily.
