BNSSG Healthier Together

Final Innovate Healthier Together Lunch and Learn session

 

The final Innovate Healthier Together Lunch and Learn session of the series focused on tackling health inequalities, presented by Huda Hujinur from Caafi Health. Huda discussed the CHERIE model (Community Health Education scReenIng & prEvention), which delivers health education, screening, and prevention in the Bristol community. Caafi Health partners with local venues to provide services like vaccinations and cancer screenings, maximising their reach and impact across underrepresented communities.

This model benefits:

  • People: facilitating access to healthcare services for healthier living.
  • The community: Increasing volunteering, employment opportunities, funding access, and empowerment.
  • Community organisations: boosts income from healthcare commissioners to enhance reputation, services, and user satisfaction while contributing to social change.
  • The healthcare system: utilises community resources to alleviate pressures on primary and secondary care and reach underserved groups.

The model proved effective during the Covid-19 pandemic, with community members and volunteers organising vaccination clinics, leading to significant vaccine uptake. The initiative went on to win the HSJ Patient Safety Award in 2022 for improving health outcomes for minority ethnic communities.

Ellie Wetz, Associate Director for the Innovate Healthier Together Programme, closed the series, summarising key learnings from previous sessions:

  • Session 1: Dr Carey McLellan (getUBetter) emphasised the importance of co-production, real-world data, and inclusivity in scaling healthcare innovations.
  • Session 2: Dr Chen Mao Davies (Anya app) focused on addressing inequalities through inclusive design, particularly for minority groups.
  • Session 3: Dr Philippa Kindon and Helen Barnes (Mayden) discussed fostering healthy behaviours through outcome-focused digital tools like the Iaptus EPR system.
  • Session 4: Dr Paul Downie presented efforts to reduce CVD deaths through child-parent screening for Familial Hypercholesterolaemia.
  • Session 5: Jane Stokes (Mymhealth) highlighted how digital tools support better management of long-term conditions like COPD and diabetes, with success attributed to clinical engagement.

Access recordings of all the Innovate Healthier Together Lunch and Learn sessions