NCA has made a commitment that health equity is at the heart of what we do, Executive Medical Director Dr Rafik Bedair told participants at an innovative event to shape the next phase of our inequalities research programme.
The event brought together staff from across NCA and partner organisations to share knowledge and highlight potential areas to develop across four key themes – partnerships, workforce, research studies and data.
Feedback and ideas from a world cafe session, as well as data and knowledge from previous work, will now be used to develop future workstreams.
Dr Bedair opened the event saying that reducing health inequalities is a key aim for NCA and the partnerships we wish to build.
He added: “We have learnt a lot about our patients and the inequalities they face. Progress has been made but we all need to acknowledge that we are just at the beginning of the journey.”
Other speakers at the event at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) included MMU’s Professor of Wellbeing and Communities Anya Ahmed, Jess Zadik NCA Research & Innovation Health Inequalities Research Lead, Public and Community Involvement Engagement Manager Aneela McAvoy from the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Greater Manchester and Professor Smeeta Sinha, Deputy Director for Innovation and Improvement at NCA Research and Innovation.
Kidney transplant recipient and health campaigner Hilaria Asumu (pictured with Health Inequalities Research Lead Jess Zadik and Community Research Nurse Rumbi Gore) spoke about her experiences within the healthcare system and shared her thoughts on systemic health inequalities and the importance of involving underserved communities in research.
Delegates from across the Greater Manchester healthcare landscape, higher education institutions and local councils contributed to the world café sessions, which will assist in shaping the scope of the health inequalities research priorities over next five years.