Liverpool’s internationally recognised experts unite to develop a city region vision that brings together world leading research, clinical excellence, global health expertise and system collaboration to improve the health of women and girls.
Leaders from across the University of Liverpool came together recently at Greenbank Conference Centre to begin shaping an ambitious new vision for women’s health that will bring together internationally recognised expertise from across the Liverpool City Region.
Chaired by Professor Shakila Thangaratinam and Professor David Lissauer, the event brought together researchers, clinicians and academic leaders working across the breadth of women’s health. Discussions focused on creating a more connected approach spanning prevention, discovery, clinical care, implementation and population health.
Liverpool has internationally recognised strengths in pregnancy and maternity, reproductive and sexual health, cardiovascular disease, mental health, population health and global health. Combined with world leading research, outstanding NHS partnerships and a strong culture of collaboration, these strengths create a unique opportunity to improve the health of women and girls through research, education, clinical excellence and system wide working.
The initiative comes at an important moment for women’s health. It supports the ambitions of the UK Women’s Health Strategy, which calls for greater action to improve women’s health across the life course, reduce inequalities and ensure that research and healthcare better reflect women’s needs. Liverpool has also recently launched its Women’s Health Strategy with Liverpool City Council’s Public Health team, providing a strong foundation for coordinated action across research, healthcare and population health.
The event marks the first stage of a wider programme of work that will extend beyond the University to create a truly system wide approach across the Liverpool City Region. Over the coming months, a series of strategic round table discussions will bring together partners from across the NHS, universities, Liverpool Health Partners, Civic Health Innovation Labs, local government, industry and the voluntary and community sector to develop a shared ambition for women’s health.
Professor Louise Kenny, Executive Pro Vice Chancellor for the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at the University of Liverpool and Chief Executive of Liverpool Health Partners, said:
“Improving women’s health requires more than excellence within individual organisations. It requires a shared commitment across research, healthcare, public health and our wider partners. This programme provides an opportunity to bring those strengths together around a common ambition to improve the health and wellbeing of women and girls across the Liverpool City Region.”
Professor Shakila Thangaratinam, Professor of Women’s Health at the University of Liverpool, Vice President (International) of the Academy of Medical Sciences and an NIHR Senior Investigator, said:
“The UK Women’s Health Strategy sets out an important ambition to improve the health and wellbeing of women throughout their lives. Liverpool is exceptionally well placed to contribute through internationally recognised expertise spanning research, clinical care, public health and implementation. By working together we can strengthen the evidence base and ensure more women benefit from research that improves care and outcomes across the life course.”
Professor David Lissauer, NIHR Professor of Global Maternal and Fetal Health, Site Lead for Women’s Health at the University of Liverpool and Honorary Consultant in Obstetrics at Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“Women’s health is about much more than maternity. It spans every stage of life, from adolescence through to healthy ageing, encompassing reproductive health, cardiovascular disease, mental health and the wider determinants of health. Liverpool brings together expertise across this spectrum, creating an opportunity to deliver more joined up research, education and care for women and girls.”
This collaborative programme will establish a long-term city region partnership that connects research, education, clinical practice, public health and implementation around a shared vision for women’s health. It will build on Liverpool’s internationally recognised scientific excellence and its ability to bring together academia, the NHS, local government, industry and communities to address some of the most significant challenges facing women’s health.
Further details of the next phase of this programme will be announced later this year following the city region round table discussions.
The initiative reflects a shared commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of women and girls through collaboration across research, healthcare, public health and communities. By bringing together internationally recognised expertise with strong system partnerships, Liverpool aims to accelerate the translation of evidence into practice, reduce health inequalities and deliver lasting improvements in health outcomes across the Liverpool City Region and beyond.