Health care professionals and researchers from across Wales took the opportunity to network, share ideas and hear from key speakers, at the Wales Population Health Conference held on the 20th November 2019. Delegates including academics, clinicians, social workers, industry partners and students took part in a day full of stimulating discussion and constructive workshops.
The Conference showcased the breadth of research being carried out across Wales sharing new insights that are providing a robust evidence base to inform policy, practice and provision.
The day began with a word from Professor Sinead Brophy Director of NCPHWR, welcoming everyone to the conference, and highlighting the importance of collaboration in healthcare research.
The first keynote speaker Professor Richard Owen from the Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law at Swansea University. Professor Owen gave an insightful overview of the Future Generations Act (Wales) 2015.
Keynote speaker: Professor Richard Owen from the Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law at Swansea University
The morning sessions then focused on ‘Healthy Development’ with presentations from:
- Michaela James, NCPHWR – ‘How children and young people inform what we do’
- Dr Margaid Williams, The Centre for Evidence Based Early Interventions, Bangor University – ‘Parenting interventions – investing in children’s futures’
- Emily Lowthian, DECIPHeR – ‘Understanding the secondary effects of parental substance use on children’s educational outcomes.
The delegates then split up into break out groups and discussed the opportunities to collaborate and the challenges of addressing inequalities in early years.
Following lunch, attendees heard from keynote speaker Dr Alisha Davies, Public Health Wales. Dr Davies presented on ‘Employment, fair work and health – the potential in data’.
Keynote speaker: Dr Alisha Davies, Public Health Wales
The afternoon sessions focused on ‘Healthy Working Life’ with presentations from:
- Professor Ernest Choy, Cardiff University School of Medicine – ‘Reducing health and societal impact of inflammatory arthritis’
- Dr Foteini Tseliou, Healthwise Wales – ‘Using population health research to improve public health’
- Dr Amy Murray, CADR – ‘Driving cessation in later life – making the links with healthy working lives’
The day come to a close with a lively discussion on the challenges of improving working life.
Sam Dredge Programme Manager for the NCPHWR said of the day: “The aim of the conference was to provide a platform and an opportunity to share research findings, stimulate discussions and foster future research collaborations and to demonstrate the breadth of Population Health research being undertaken across Wales.
Professor Sinead Brophy Director of NCPHWR added: “Collaboration is key to what we do – with our aim being to bring people together from across Wales’ health and care sector to discuss the challenges facing Wales now and for future Generations”