Event One - Health Inequalities

What is the One Gloucestershire Leadership Conference Series?

A series of events that will give current and future leaders within our organisations the opportunity to build and strengthen working relationships at all levels and collaborate to fulfil our vision and core purposes:

Over recent years the health and care organisations in Gloucestershire have been working together more and more in ways to improve health and wellbeing in Gloucestershire. We share a commitment to make a real difference to the health, care and wellbeing of people who live or work in Gloucestershire. Whether physical or mental health, old or young, and whatever people’s background and beliefs, everyone has the right to the best possible care. Not regardless of their different needs but in recognition of them.

The One Gloucestershire Conference Series aims to create a shared space for leaders to network, take action to deliver on our vision and purpose and develop their leadership skills and capabilities.

This inaugural conference in the series will focus on Health Inequalities.

Health Inequalities – what is it?

“Health inequalities are unfair and avoidable differences in health across the population, and between different groups within society. Health inequalities arise because of the conditions in which we are born, grow, live, work and age. These conditions influence our opportunities for good health, and how we think, feel and act, and this shapes our mental health, physical health and wellbeing”.

Whilst Gloucestershire’s overall level of health and wellbeing is good, it conceals large disparities. We know that we have a persistent, long-term health inequalities gap in our county, for example, between 2018 to 2020, men in the least deprived areas of Gloucestershire lived 7.6 years longer than those in the most deprived areas, whereas women lived 5.8 years longer in the least deprived areas compared to the most deprived areas. Tackling Health Inequalities and working towards Health Equity is one of the fundamental purposes of Integrated Care Systems and as a system we are prioritising our work to address health inequalities, which is a key theme throughout One Gloucestershire’s Integrated Care Strategy.

Why is this relevant for me as a leader in our county?

Health inequalities are everyone’s business and work to address health inequalities needs to be embedded across all programmes and areas, ensuring that we meet our responsibility to delivering high-quality healthcare for all through equitable access, excellent experience, and optimal outcomes.

Senior leaders have the remit to draw wider attention to the health inequalities agenda across the system, and to drive forward initiatives that will help us to achieve our commitments to health equity.

We have developed a Health Inequalities Framework that sets out our approach to tackling health inequalities and has been adopted by the system. The Framework enables our focus on health inequalities to be visible throughout all our work and will be used as a mechanism for programmes and organisations to report on their contribution to addressing health inequalities, and through this ensure that there is a clear understanding of opportunities for improvement.

How can this help me with my service?

The session will provide participants with an opportunity to hear about the Health Inequalities Framework, to reflect on what this means for you and your service area, and to hear about some of the tools that can help you to apply a health inequalities lens to your work.

What can else can I gain from attending?

Meet leaders from a wide range of partners to build and strengthen professional working relationships and develop your own leadership capabilities.

Who will be there?

Executives, senior and aspiring leaders from the following organisations will be at the event:

• NHS Gloucestershire ICB
• Gloucestershire County Council
• Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust
• Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Trust
• SW Ambulance NHS Trust
• Integrated Locality Partnerships
• District Councils
• Voluntary Sector
• Gloucestershire Constabulary
• Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue
• Health Watch
• Independent Social Care Sector