Academics and NHS set to tackle health inequalities

Prof Sudhesh Kumar said the group would benefit from the various areas of expertise of its members

A new partnership between academic and health bodies has been announced with the aim of tackling health inequalities.

The Arden Health Partnership (AHP) has been formed by the University of Warwick, Coventry University and five Warwickshire NHS institutions.

"We are lucky in this country to have the NHS, where care delivery is free at the point of access," said Prof Sudhesh Kumar OBE, vice-president (health) at the University of Warwick.

"But it's surprising that we still have so much disparity in health outcomes."

Figures suggest life expectancy in Coventry is lower than the national average.

Prof Kumar says pockets of deprivation and areas with high ethnic minority populations are contributory factors.

"I think sometimes spending enough time to look after your health takes a back seat," he explained. "Increasing health literacy is important, so more people are aware of what the issues are.

"Even if you are aware, imagine [someone running] a corner shop - they can't take time off to do the things they should be doing."

Prof Kumar said educating people on risky health behaviours was a key aim of the partnership

Prof Kumar said early intervention - educating people about how to take care of themselves - was vital.

"Many of the problems we have here are very similar to health problems in other parts of the country," he said, citing smoking as an example of unhealthy behaviour people still engage in.

'Develop innovative solutions'

"We know that one organisation cannot solve challenges like tackling health inequalities and improving health and wellbeing outcomes in our area on their own," said Prof John Latham CBE, vice-chancellor of Coventry University and CEO of the AHP.

"This collaboration is a commitment to working together to address regional health challenges."

Prof Kumar said groups were being set up to include people with expertise in dealing with health issues.

"They will articulate [the issue], then get in people who can produce solutions," he said.

"They may be from universities... or they could be from businesses or industries that have developed innovative new solutions.

"And we are putting together processes to help increase the rate of adoption of these processes by the NHS."