ELBA and Partners Placing Health Back on the Agenda

By Louise Muller, Director of Partnerships, ELBA

The Health Inequalities in East London forum on the 14th May was a fantastic return to ELBA convening events where partners come together to discuss key strategic agendas. Organised and delivered in partnership with colleagues from our partners East London NHS Foundation Trust and Barts Health NHS Trust, and hosted by our partner Man Group, the event brought representatives from our business supporters together.

Julie Hutchinson, ELBA’s Chief Executive chaired the event. Speakers in senior roles from the two anchor health organisations brilliantly set the context, highlighted statistics, emphasised the crucial role of service users in all delivery, offered examples of how corporate experience supported the sector, and shared the huge challenges. Against the backdrop of huge financial strain and cost reduction policies, they stressed the need from beneficiaries was rising so dramatically that an additional east London hospital would need to be built if more was not done on prevention and collaboration across the sectors. A lively and interesting panel discussion and questions from the audience covered a lot more underlying topics including youth mental health and unemployment. The need was clear. Business has a big role to play.

ELBA is further developing the ask for support from business. It is hoped that more discussions, collaborations and volunteering will happen.

For those wanting to hear more or receive summary information from the event contact Louise.Muller@elba-1.org.uk