Thank you to all attendees at our latest ARCFEST, held at Preston North End Football Club, on 13th June. We were delighted to host a panel debate on the current strategies of both Integrated Care Boards – NHS Cheshire and Merseyside (Dr Greg Irving) and NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria (Dr Sakthi Karunanith) – for identifying and reducing health inequalities. We hope this paves the way for mutual working and collaboration to ensure the ARC NWC is playing a pivotal role helping deliver these key work programmes. Thank you to ARC NWC public adviser Dorcas Akeju OBE and Alder Hey’s Professor Jo Blair for also being part of the panel.

The four research projects showcased by ARC from its members were very well received and clear examples of how ARC NWC is investing in both capacity building and research initiatives to benefit its members.

It was a proactive and energised event. Dr Sathki Karunanith, Director of Public Health for Lancashire County Council, said: “The work of ARC is directly relevant to solving key issues faced by the ICS across the country. We have a critical opportunity as we refresh the ARC business plan to ensure our research priorities are aligned to resource allocation. I learnt so much from this event and will continue to be an advocate for embedding research into practice for reducing health inequalities.”

Thank you all also for contributions towards our business plan which was very useful and will help form the new proposal back to the NIHR. If you would still like to input into our plans please email us via arcnwc@liverpool.ac.uk
Please browse the videos of ARCFEST sessions from the day by viewing them on our YouTube channel.