Midlands Health and Care Inequalities Policy Commission

Tackling Health Inequalities

Midlands Innovation Health, supported by the Midlands Engine, is leading a Policy Commission to increase understanding of issues surrounding health inequalities in the Midlands and the ability of the region to respond to them.

The Midlands Health and Care Inequalities Policy Commission recognises the exacerbation of existing health inequalities due to COVID-19, and its impact on the development of new emerging inequalities, as well as reflecting on the wider determinants underpin them.

Health

Commission Aims

1. Determine what the main health inequality issues in the Midlands are pre and post pandemic

2. Summarise what existing action is already taking place and what is not, including current duties and requirements with respect to identifying and reducing inequalities

3. Identify barriers and determine enablers with mechanisms for delivery across the Midlands

4. Provide detailed case studies of best practice and opportunities to learn from

5. Propose priorities for change and associated monitoring metrics

Leading The Commission

Lord Victor Adebowale
Lord Victor Adebowale

Chair of NHS Confederation, Chair

Professor Kamlesh Khunti
Professor Kamlesh Khunti

Director of the Centre for Ethnic Health Research Scientific

Commissioners

Dr Mubasshir Ajaz
Dr Mubasshir Ajaz

Head of Wellbeing and Prevention at West Midlands Combined Authority

Vicky Bailey
Vicky Bailey

Non-Executive Director of University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

David Buck
David Buck

Senior Fellow, Public Health & Inequalities at the King’s Fund

Dr Jennifer Dixon
Dr Jennifer Dixon

Chief Executive at the Health Foundation

Jo Gideon MP
Jo Gideon MP

Conservative MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central

John Hume
John Hume

Chief Executive at People's Health Trust

Prof Martin Levermore MBE DL
Prof Martin Levermore MBE DL

Chair of Medilink Midlands and Visiting Prof at Birmingham City University

Alex Norris MP
Alex Norris MP

Labour MP for Nottingham North

Deborah O'Callaghan
Deborah O’Callaghan

Associate Director of NICE Field Team (Midlands and East)

Dr Bola Owolabi
Dr Bola Owolabi

Director of Health Inequalities at NHS England and NHS Improvement

Prof Patrick Vernon OBE
Prof Patrick Vernon OBE

Non-Executive Champion of Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care System

Prof Pauline Walsh
Prof Pauline Walsh

MIH Convener and PVC Health/Wellbeing at Keele University

Dame Elizabeth Fradd DBE DL
Dame Elizabeth Fradd DBE DL

Honorary Professor at the University of Nottingham

Networks

ICS Engagement Workshops

We convened a series of events to explore how Integrated Care Systems (ICS) can further consider research and innovation as a key element of planning, development and improving services. Watch the Integrated Care Systems Research and Innovation Workshops here