Tackling health inequalities through research and innovation

Representatives from across the health and care system in Wessex have gathered to explore how research and innovation can help tackle health inequalities in the region.

The event, jointly hosted by Wessex Academic Health Science Network (AHSN) and the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) Wessex, brought together more than 170 people from the NHS, universities, local councils, interest groups and charities.

The focus of the day was to identify the biggest health and care challenges facing the region and explore opportunities to address them.

There were sixteen sessions throughout the day, with presentations and talks examining different aspects of health inequity. They included women and the criminal justice system, digital support for older people, food poverty, diet and obesity, alcohol, social care, preventing long term health problems and reaching side-lined communities.

Wessex AHSN Deputy CEO and Director of Innovation, Nicola Bent (pictured), attended the event and introduced a session on equity in mental health services. Describing the day, Nicola said:

“We’re delighted to have collaborated with ARC Wessex to host this important event. We had lots of great conversations with our partners and some fascinating presentations from a broad range of speakers demonstrating how their work is addressing health inequalities.

“Our collaboration with our research and innovation adoption partners continues at pace, and we look forward to taking forward discussions to progress work in this area. Thanks to everyone involved in making the day a success.”

Explaining the importance of partnerships and research impact to health and care in Wessex, Professor Alison Richardson, who leads ARC Wessex, added:

“The Covid pandemic exposed the needs of people in our community like no other single event, and health and care systems are still adapting and recovering from this.

“Against that backdrop we face a multitude of inequalities that have arisen partly from economic, geographic, and historical factors.

“We have come together as partners in this work because health and care inequalities need to be tackled through collaboration, this requires effort by many different organisations and individuals – collective effort.”

The event also introduced the new Public Involvement Academy, a collaboration of research organisations across Wessex. Heather Parsons, Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement Lead at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, has been working with patients and the public to design and develop the Academy. In this video, she explains one alternative approach for patients to tell their story.

Christine McGrath, Managing Director of Wessex Health Partners, attended the event and here explains how this new partnership will improve population health and address health inequalities.

The event has already strengthened partnerships, expanded networks and encouraged action to address some of the most challenging issues facing our communities.

To find out more about the event and access resources from the day, please visit our health inequalities project page.