Year 11 Pupils Invited to Discover the World of Healthcare in New After School Academy

TARGETED support for marginalised communities, strong public messaging, and a properly coordinated Government approach led by Ministers are among the recommendations contained in a new evidence based article examining how the UK should respond to future Pandemics.

Published by The University of Manchester’s Policy Engagement Unit, Policy@Manchester, Dr Maurice Nagington, Dr Jeremy Williams and Dr Jaime Garcia-Iglesias set out key findings from their research on how the country tackled the 2022 outbreak of Mpox, formerly known as Monkeypox.

Their conclusions were informed by interviews and focus groups with stakeholders including affected communities and healthcare workers.   

The academics have discovered:-- “shortcomings in national leadership, stark local and regional inequalities in relation to vaccine access, and inadequate communication infrastructures.”

They offer advice to policymakers and public health officials in four key areas for addressing future infectious disease outbreaks, beginning with reflections on how mpox disproportionately affected marginalised communities.

“People from BAME backgrounds appeared to have lower levels of accessing the vaccine, while those from lower-income populations faced additional barriers to engaging with health and care services,” they observe.  “Some individuals also faced challenges in self isolation such as financial or emotional difficulties.”

They advise:- “Public health teams need to be empowered to give additional support (such as financial) where necessary so people can self isolate.”

The team argue that the needs of marginalised individuals merit equally important consideration when developing effective communications strategies, a 2nd area examined in their article.

“We note social media emerged as a powerful tool in the response to the Mpox outbreak, facilitating rapid dissemination of information, promoting awareness, and helping collaboration of a wide range of actors involved in the Mpox response,” Nagington, Williams, and Garcia-Iglesias write.  “The reliance on social media also poses challenges, particularly in terms of equitable access to information.”

In their view:- “additional forms of communication that can reach individuals who are marginalised should also be simultaneously developed during outbreaks.” They add:- “Community organisations play an important role in developing and distributing information that is suitable and impactful.”

Addressing a 3rd area where they believe action is needed, the academics call for Government agencies; primarily the Department for Health and Social Care; to produce guidance for local public health teams to follow, backed by additional financial support.

They have recommended that:- “Governments should provide Ministerial level co-ordination to ensure all relevant professionals, policymakers and community representatives work together to proactively address any emerging inequalities in the immediate outbreak and plan for future outbreaks. And, with knowledge gained from their research of the “pivotal role” played by sexual health services during the Mpox outbreak, Nagington, Williams and Garcia-Iglesias call for policymakers and legislators to “secure adequate funding and support for sexual health services to enhance their capacity to address the demands of outbreaks."

‘Did the UK fail in its management of mpox? Lessons for future Pandemics’ by Dr Maurice Nagington, Dr Jeremy Williams, and Dr Jaime Garcia Iglesias can be read free of charge on the Policy@Manchester website.

Community mental health and wellbeing hub wins top education award

A mental health and wellbeing hub co-developed by Edge Hill University researchers has won an Educate North Award; 1 of the most prestigious awards in education.

World leading Edge Hill research underpins the vital services being offered at The People's Place in Liverpool, run in partnership with Everton in the Community (EitC), Everton Football Club's charitable arm.

The £2.5million hub, the 1st of its kind to be attached to a Premier League football club, adopts a:- "1 stop shop" approach to supporting people in Liverpool City Region.

Andy Smith, Professor of Sport, Physical Activity and Mental Health, said:- "Current approaches to health and wellbeing services are unsustainable, expensive and often do not provide communities with timely, effective and accessible support to tackle stubborn health inequalities, especially around mental health. The People's Place offers something different."

Dr Helen O'Keeffe, Associate Dean in the Faculty of Education, added:- "With Everton in the Community we developed a new approach to enable residents who don't typically engage with mainstream health and care services to lead healthier, happier and more fulfilling lives. Our:- 'right care, right person' approach makes it easier for residents to find the right professional, in their community, on their terms."

Edge Hill researchers worked with residents, Schools, NHS trusts, charities and public health specialists to create much needed community-based health programmes.

Clinical and non-clinical services are now on offer at the hub, including:- community groups, GPs, Mental Health Nurses and Counsellors, Dementia and Diabetes Clinics and Health Screening, in collaboration with Regional NHS health providers and the 3rd sector.

Tackling the Blues, a multi award winning sport and arts based mental health and wellbeing programme for children and young people, run in partnership by Edge Hill, EitC and Tate Liverpool, is 1 of the programmes being delivered from the hub.

The development of The People's Place in supporting people in areas including:- bereavement, psychological crisis, Parkinson's disease and food poverty is recognised with the Educate North Award win in the Community Engagement - University Sector category.

Professor Smith and Dr O'Keeffe said:- "We are thrilled that the impact of our collaborative work on The People's Place, as part of our 11 year partnership with Everton in the Community, has been commended by Educate North. This award win confirms how authentic, meaningful and sustained community involvement in research can positively engage those local communities who need health and care services the most."

Jon Jones, Director of Adult Services at Everton in the Community, added:- "We are committed to delivering innovative mental health and wellbeing support for the community, and ensuring that it is co-produced with, and meets the need of, those who access it. This award win is testament to our successful partnership with Edge Hill University to tackle mental health inequalities, underpinned by research."

Find out more about how Edge Hill University's expanding body of research is addressing some of society's most pressing problems, including the current mental health crisis.