Patients and local residents were at the forefront of conversations at a collaborative workshop held with partners recently.

Senior leaders from our Trust gathered with regional and national NHS colleagues, and representatives from our local councils, and the voluntary and community sectors, to see how together, we can improve the lives of those living in our local communities.

While our primary function as a hospital Trust is to deliver health services, as the largest local employer across our boroughs, we play an important role in working with our partners and communities to address factors which can cause ill health across north east London.

Groups on the day discussed what we’re doing and how we could improve on developing our staff; how we’re engaging with our communities and partners; what we’re doing to be sustainable; how we’re using our land and buildings beyond our services; and the support we’re giving to local businesses and suppliers.

It allowed us to think about how we direct our resources to influence the economic, social, environmental determinants of health and reduce inequalities - for example, increasing our pay rates in line with the London Living Wage, making the NEL ICB the first region in London to be an accredited Living Wage Employer.

Guests heard from our Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Matthew Trainer, our Chief Operating Officer and Deputy CEO Fiona Wheeler and the Director of Workforce, Training and Education, for NHSE London region, Lizzie Smith.

Matthew said: “It’s important that we have these collaborative events looking at wider issues as around 80% of health outcomes are determined by non-health related factors such as income, employment, housing and education."

Fiona added: “It’s time to turn these conversations into change and I’m looking forward to working together on these issues.”