Cheshire and Merseyside’s approach to population health has taken an exciting step forward with the establishment and first meeting of the Population Health Partnership, replacing the Population Health Board.
The Partnership, chaired by Professor Ian Ashworth, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside’s Director of Population Health and a member of the Collaborative’s Executive Board, is the driving force behind the health and care system’s mission to reduce health inequalities and improve overall health and wellbeing of the population.
The Partnership works closely with and reports into the subregion’s Strategy and Transformation Committee and Health and Care Partnership, and is ultimately accountable to the Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board.
The four pillars of the Partnership are:
- Social Determinants Programme
- Supporting Healthy Behaviours Programme
- Health Inequalities (CORE20PLUS5) Programme
- Screening and Immunisations
The Partnership is also supported by the Data into Action Board as well as communications, workforce development and more.
Professor Ashworth said: “It is fantastic to see so much incredible energy and enthusiasm in our system for reducing health inequalities and improving the health and wellbeing of our population, and with the establishment of this Partnership, we will be able to work across the health and care system to deliver even more tangible outcomes at a faster rate. With a range of experts from our local and regional NHS, Office of Health Inequalities and Disparities, Voluntary Community Faith Social Enterprise Sector and Health Watch organisations working together, I am confident that our Partnership will be celebrating many achievements in the coming months and years.”
The first meeting of the Population Health Partnership was on 8th May 2024. The key messages from the meeting are:
- The terms of reference for the Partnership will be reviewed by the group and a final draft will be shared with the NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Strategy and Transformation Committee for final approval
- Recruitment for the first Population Health Academy, led by the Data into Action Board, is happening now. The Academy is a learning programme that will provide training on data tools and dashboards to ensure that there is consistent data-informed decision making across the subregion, as well as encourage leaders to make use of data to address and reduce health inequalities
- The Social Determinants Programme is working to deliver the All Together Inspired platform, which will support the system with learning and resources relating to the social determinants of health, with a soft launch in June and full launch in September
- The Supporting Healthy Behaviours Programme held a senior stakeholder event to garner support for the subregion’s All Together Smokefree ambition, with a strategic framework being drafted using the World Health Organisation’s MPOWER Framework. The event was well attended and feedback positive.
If you would like to join the Population Health Alliance Network, made up of stakeholders across the subregion, and receive frequent updates about the Partnership and Population Health Programmes, please contact: champscommunications@wirral.gov.uk.
