Introduction
sciences sector , which has the assets , skills , momentum , and innovation to drive Levelling Up not only for the North , but to benefit the whole of the UK .
The themes and ‘ missions ’ within the Levelling-Up White Paper further promotes the growing focus on population health management and the role it can play in addressing health inequalities : something which was also identified as a priority within the 2022-23 NHS Operational Planning Guidance and is also a key area of focus for our regional health and care partners .
Population health management has been high on our agenda for several years and our evolving health inequalities strategy demonstrates our commitment to accelerating the adoption and spread of products and services that improve access to , and achieve more equitable , health and care . Addressing health inequalities is a theme that runs right through our portfolio of work and in partnership with local and national stakeholders , we are already creating the right collaborations and opportunities to lead initiatives and projects that deliver this vital agenda .
As an example of how our health inequalities strategy permeates throughout all our local work , we are supporting our ICSs to tackle cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) as part of their population management approach through several initiatives including Healthy Hearts and the AHSN Network ’ s national Lipids Optimisation and Blood Pressure Optimisation programmes . As a major driver of health inequalities , CVD accounts for a quarter of the life expectancy gap between deprived and affluent communities . You can read about this project on page 62 .
At a national level , we are
working with NHS England and NHS Improvement ’ s Health Inequalities team to showcase how innovation plays an essential part in supporting population health management through programmes such as
Core20PLUS5 .
We also secured funding from the Department of Business , Energy , and Industrial Strategy ’ s ‘ Regulators Pioneer Fund ’ to work in partnership with the Care Quality Commission
to create a roadmap that will help GPs to develop and evidence innovative projects that reduce health inequalities , particularly in the most deprived areas .
Rob Webster , CEO Lead for West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership , explains how Yorkshire & Humber AHSN is helping to support the growth , adoption and success of innovation in West Yorkshire
4 Transforming Lives Through Innovation