Core20PLUS5 is a national NHS England approach to inform action to reduce healthcare inequalities at both national and system level. The approach defines a target population – the ‘Core20PLUS’ – and identifies ‘5’ focus clinical areas requiring accelerated improvement.
The approach, which initially focussed on healthcare inequalities experienced by adults, has now been adapted to apply to children and young people.
The information below outlines the Core20PLUS5 approach for adults.
Core20
The most deprived 20% of the national population as identified by the national Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD). The IMD has seven domains with indicators accounting for a wide range of social determinants of health.
PLUS
PLUS population groups should be identified at a local level. Populations we would expect to see identified are ethnic minority communities; people with a learning disability and autistic people; people with multiple long-term health conditions; other groups that share protected characteristics as defined by the Equality Act 2010; groups experiencing social exclusion, known as inclusion health groups coastal communities (where there may be small areas of high deprivation hidden amongst relative affluence).
Inclusion health groups include: people experiencing homelessness, drug and alcohol dependence, vulnerable migrants, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, sex workers, people in contact with the justice system, victims of modern slavery and other socially excluded groups.
5
There are five clinical areas of focus which require accelerated improvement. Governance for these five focus areas sits with national programmes; national and regional teams coordinate activity across local systems to achieve national aims.
