Reflections on the Inequalities and Health Summit: An Urgent Call to Action
The Inequalities and Health Summit: A Call for Action took place on the 29th of October, focusing on addressing the rising challenges of health inequality.
The event brought together over 200 delegates, including policymakers, health professionals, social entrepreneurs, academics, business leaders, and charity representatives, all working towards actionable solutions. PRAN was delighted to collaborate with colleagues from Liverpool John Moores and Liverpool Hope University, and many other stakeholder, to make this event a success. You can read more about the event here. Below are some testimonials from the delegates.
“Last Tuesday, I was privileged to be invited to speak at the Inequalities and Health Summit at Liverpool Hope University, which brought together experts in health, social justice, and poverty alleviation from across the Liverpool City Region. The summit focused on critical issues like food insecurity, housing-related health challenges, and barriers faced by marginalised communities, all of which align with the common mission of improving health and wellbeing for our most disadvantaged residents. My presentation focused on Understanding Health Inequality, with a focus on child poverty. I discussed how inequalities have existed in Liverpool for many years, and despite lots of strong work in this area, challenges remain, as identified in my Health 2040 report. Hopefully one of the key takeaways was that the future is not set, we can change the future, and that we can improve health of our residents and reduce inequalities by 2040. The trick to this of course is through really strong purposeful collaborative action – it is clear to me that by working together through strategic partnerships, policy, and community-driven solutions, we can address Liverpool’s most pressing health needs. A big thanks goes to Dr. Natalija Atas and the team at Liverpool Hope University for bringing this important event to life.”
Prof Matthew Ashton, Director of Public Health, Liverpool City Council
“Growing up I lived in a house without adequate heating and I remember the condensation freezing on the inside of the windows in winter and my parents having to bleach the walls to get rid of the mould. I guess it’s not surprising that I have asthma and still decades later suffer the effects of repeated chest infections.
Working with children and families in the city for the last 20 years in some of our most deprived communities has really highlighted for me the impact of poverty on children’s development. Lack of quality and healthy food, damp homes, no bed to sleep in all impact on a child’s ability to grow, learn and thrive.
Last week I had the privilege of participating in the Inequalities and Health Summit at Hope University. To spend a day with so many individuals and organisations who are working both on the ground and strategically to really understand the social determinants of health was inspiring; the passion in the room was palpable. However, more important was being with hundreds of people who are ready to act, collaborate and drive change. I am really excited to see this mobilise and to be part of a movement that will change outcomes for our communities and our people.”
Cllr Liz Parsons, Councillor for Kensington & Fairfield Ward and Liverpool City Council Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care
“The Inequalities and Health Summit hosted by Liverpool Hope University was a fantastic occasion to gain insights into a range of diverse work across Liverpool and beyond. From keynote speeches, including by Professor Matthew Ashton, Katie Schmuecker, and Debbie Abrahams MP, to research papers and poster presentations by practitioners and academics at all career stages, the day offered much reflection as well as the intended call for action in the event title. As a law academic at LJMU, it was exciting to see the range of perspectives which emerged about the social and commercial determinants of health. I was also encouraged to see how my work on political and legal determinants regarding healthcare systems and frameworks including NHS and private healthcare interaction will be informed by this event, and can help develop conversations with others working on topics as diverse as COVID-19 responses and trans healthcare. Many thanks to the event organisers, and looking forward to more cross-Liverpool (and beyond) events and collaborations!"
Dr Mary Guy, Senior Lecturer in Public and EU Law, Liverpool John Moores University
”Last week, I attended the Inequalities and Health Summit at Liverpool Hope University, which gathered over 200 delegates from academia, policy, and practice for discussions and workshops to address this critical policy challenge. The summit highlighted the pressing health inequalities in the Liverpool City Region, exacerbated by high levels of deprivation, life expectancy gaps, and increasing chronic health issues, as well as showcasing good practice examples of tackling poverty locally.
Liverpool’s Director of Public Health presented stark statistics about the city’s health and projections for 2040, emphasising the risk of residents spending over a quarter of their lives living in a state of poor health if we do not act now. Similarly, Katie Schmuecker from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation stressed the urgent need for local and national responses to combat a rising trend of deepening poverty and destitution in the UK. A key moment was Richard Wilkinson’s insights on the social costs of income inequality, which he first discussed in his influential book, The Spirit Level. He illustrated how inequality impacts individual well-being and societal behaviour, calling it the “enemy between us.” His session concluded with calls for improved access to health services, education, progressive taxation, and actions to ensure future well-being, particularly in the context of climate change.
The final panel discussion highlighted the importance of adopting a whole-system approach to improve health outcomes and reduce spatial inequalities. At the Heseltine Institute we actively engage with this agenda through a variety of research and policy initiatives, including Policy Briefings launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, aimed at providing innovative solutions to public service challenges. We also partner with the Liverpool Health Determinants Research Centre, led by Liverpool City Council, to enhance health outcomes using evidence-based policymaking.
With the new Labour government committed to a 10-year plan for national renewal and a policy programme structured around five missions, this presents an ideal opportunity to articulate a bold vision for change that drives collaboration across the system, breaks down policy silos and aligns efforts around a common goal. If we are truly serious about tackling health inequalities, we must embrace a model that prioritises strategic collaboration and partnership in order to co-produce practical solutions that promote equity for all.”
Sue Jarvis, Heseltine Institute for Public Policy, Practice and Place, Co-Director, The University of Liverpool
“Attending the Inequalities and Health Summit at Liverpool Hope University was a powerful experience, bringing together dedicated voices in health, social justice, and poverty alleviation across the Liverpool City Region. The summit provided an invaluable platform to discuss urgent issues like food insecurity, housing challenges, poverty alleviation and the barriers faced by marginalised communities.
A key takeaway was the need for intentional collaboration, moving beyond siloed efforts to create systemic change. Evidently, Liverpool has passionate stakeholders who deeply care about the communities they serve. However, their work could be strengthened by continued joined-up efforts and a closer look at the legal and commercial determinants of health. Laws and policies shape access to healthcare, the built environment, and the protection of individual rights—each with profound impacts on public health. Likewise, corporate practices and market forces influence health outcomes by determining access to nutritious food, safe products, and responsible advertising.
At Impacting Health Hub, we share this commitment to a holistic, long-term approach, working to build healthier communities by addressing root causes and upholding the right to health. Congratulations to Dr. Atas, Liverpool Hope University, and everyone involved for bringing this impactful summit to life. Together, we can advance health equity in our region.”
Elsie E. Hayford, Legal and Policy Director, Impacting Health Hub
“There is strength in solidarity, and this was abundantly self-evident at the Inequalities in Health Summit: Call for Action. Notable presentations from Prof Matthew Ashton, Katie Schmuecker and Prof Richard Wilkinson brought home the scale of health inequality challenges across our region and offered up evidence-based actions and stakeholder informed plans to drive positive change.
We had the pleasure of showcasing Wellbeing Enterprises’ social prescribing approaches in the poster exhibition and speaking with other exhibitors who are engaged in research and practice that is pushing the dial towards prevention and early intervention. It was an energising experience to connect with people and partners united through a shared purpose to improve health outcomes.
Our take-home messages were shaped through the debates and interactions that took place:
Move beyond the rhetoric and act now. Mobilise all sectors, citizens and communities to bring about sustainable impact.
Step out of silos and learn together. Sharing insights, wisdom and resources to co-design innovative ways forward.
Nurture wealth creation in communities. Grow all forms of capital to pump prime a prevention agenda. Social investment opportunities are also likely to be of growing importance in future.
Build the evidence base of what works. Strengthen collaborations between academic institutions, the public and third sectors.
Everyone is a changemaker. Trust the wisdom of communities to bring about positive change. Our role as stakeholder organisations ought to be as ‘first followers’ of our communities’ aspirations.
A truly memorable and thought-provoking summit with a defining key message - 'act now'.”
Mark Swift, Founder CEO, and James Smith,Operations Manager, Wellbeing Enterprises
“It was a Tuesday in October half-term, yet the Inequalities and Health Summit successfully attracted communities, leaders, and academics for a crucial conversation about the urgent need for change. This summit gathered experts to confront the harsh realities of poverty, policy failures, and escalating health inequalities across the Northwest. The picture in Liverpool mirrored that of many other regions, revealing stark disparities between neighbourhoods.
At the summit, politicians, public health leaders, and representatives from the voluntary and community sector (VCS) united with a common purpose. They called for sustained, long-term funding and underscored the importance of addressing power imbalances within our society. It is time to move beyond ‘quick fix’ solutions and stop waging war on the unemployed who are grappling with poor health. It’s staggering to realise that in one of the world’s wealthiest nations, seven million households struggle to afford essentials—not luxuries. For many, facing ‘impossible choices’ daily makes prioritising health an uphill battle.
With 30% of UK children growing up in poverty, health inequality is a pressing issue that affects us all, not just the most disadvantaged. The summit’s message was clear: we need collective action and a shared commitment to systemic change. Now is the time to ensure that everyone can experience good health. Together, we can drive lasting health equality. Let’s act now.”
Amina Ismail, Community Mobiliser, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
“It was a privilege to be able to present at this event. Unfortunately, I was only able to attend the second half.
Richard Wilkinson spelt out a global picture, based on a wealth of data, of the convergence of threats to the continued existence of our current societies. However, while he amply demonstrated the scale and urgency of the problem, there was no sense that there may be solutions already within our reach.
In this context I was delighted that around 25 people came to my workshop, examining how drama can be used to overcome the gap in popular economic literacy (reported on by the JRF earlier this year) which enables governments wedded to neo-liberal values to continue to talk about concepts such as ‘growth’ in a way that is bringing the collapse described by Wilkinson ever closer, ever faster.
For this reason, I felt one panel was something of a disappointment. There was no sense of the need for systemic change, and no sense of urgency. What might have helped here would have been the representation of lived experience and advocacy groups on the panel – as it was, the conference admirably brought together the details and complexities of the problems, but stopped short of investigating systemic solutions. Something for next year perhaps?”
Aidan Jolly, Co-Artistic Director, Collective Encounters
The event effectively brought together a wide range of stakeholders and opened up critical conversations. However, there was so much more we wished to cover but could not in one day! Going forward, we are dedicated to keeping this engagement alive, putting our best efforts into extending these discussions and driving sustained action in the future.
