When data showed that ethnic minorities were more likely to fall severely ill and die from COVID-19,

experts and pundits asked why. As we learned more through the course of the pandemic,

it became increasingly clear that its socioeconomic factors

that contribute heavily to COVID outcomes.

It's densely packed multi-generational households

and jobs on the front line of retail,

health, and transport that have contributed to this divide.

We've long known that where you live, who you live

with, how you grew up, and how much money you have can have long-lasting consequences for your

health. Those who live in polluted inner city neighborhoods, where drug abuse may be rife,

are of course going to have different health outcomes compared to the residents of Leafy Suburban

London. We've known this through the work of Sir Michael Marmot, who gave his compared to the residents of Leafy Suburban London.

We've known this through the work of Sir Michael Marmot, who gave his name to the landmark Marmot Review.

But what do these findings mean for healthcare professionals and policy makers?

Do doctors and nurses now also have to think about air pollution and green spaces?

Is this holistic view of health helpful and indeed possible?

I'm Kate Andrews and in a special episode of The Spectators podcast, I'm going to be trying to

answer this question with a panel of experts. We're joined by Charmaine Griffiths, head of the

British Heart Foundation, by Chimney Bottatt, UK and Ireland managing director of the

pharmaceutical company Novartis, which is kindly sponsoring this podcast, and by Sir Michael

Marmot himself, who's been looking at this question in today's Britain. Welcome all.

Michael, can you start by explaining why you think socio-economic factors should be considered as a part of health care?

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