London Health Commission Seminar series - Spring/ Summer 2007
Developed by the LHC Inequalities and wider determinants forum

Contents

• Description
• Context, aims and objectives
• target audience
• Seminar series structure

Description
This seminar series was designed to bring together academics, policy makers and practitioners to take a radical look at health inequalities and their underlying causes and to propose solutions. The seminars helped shape the LHC's recommendations to the Mayor and will inform the development of the Mayor's Health Inequalities Strategy and how to measure its success.

Context, Aims, Objectives
London is a diverse, vibrant, dynamic world City. Trends on several key health indicators show that Londoners' health is improving, for example educational attainment rates are up and road traffic accidents down. However this overall picture masks high levels of inequality between different geographical areas and population groups. Disabled people, some black, and minority ethnic groups groups, and families in poverty continue to fare worse that the rest of the population.

We were presented with a unique set of opportunities that mean there is no better time than now to seize the initiative and drive forward on tackling health inequalities. These included the Mayor's health Inequalities strategy, the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games and their legacy, Thames Gateway and other major development initiatives and the ban on smoking in public places.

This seminar series explored how to:

• make best use of, and develop the evidence base and what we know works,
• learn from successful strategies and approaches developed by other cities, and
• indicators and other approaches to tracking progress.
  

The seminars gave a unique opportunity for academics, policy makers, strategic planners and practitioners across all sectors to take a fresh and radical new look at the challenges that London's diverse communities face and to propose solutions that maximize the opportunities outlined above.

Target audience
Public health and social science academics, pan London organisations with an influence over health and health determinants e.g. Greater London Authority, Transport for London NHS, London, London Development Agency, independent organizations, charities, health economists and policy think tanks, primary care trusts and other NHS, local authorities, voluntary and community sector organisations.

Seminar series structure
The seminar series was composed of four separate events. The first, hosted by Professor Adrian Renton, University of East London set the scene with presentations on the causes of health inequalities and the economics of neighbourhood regeneration.

Presentations were followed by a panel discussion chaired by Dr Ian Basnett, Director of Public Health, Tower Hamlets PCT and Chair of the LHC Inequalities and wider determinants forum. Active debate and audience participation will be the order of the day.