We have been encouraged to see recent comment in the public sphere about the Centre’s renowned approach to integrating health and wellbeing. It is a widely shared view that collaboration between the health sector, charities and communities is needed now more than ever as the longer-term effects of the coronavirus pandemic are beginning to be felt.
In recent times at the Bromley by Bow Centre, we have transformed our services in response to the Covid-19 crisis. Alongside our usual extensive range of programmes, support and advice (which have now become virtual) we have added a new Crisis Social Prescribing project, working closely with our health practices focused on outreach with 6,000 identified vulnerable local residents. We have formed new partnerships to provide much-needed food distribution and bereavement counselling services. We are about to pilot a local contact tracing project based on the trust we have built in our community over 35 years.
Lord Nigel Crisp is an independent cross bench member of the House of Lords where he co-chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Global Health. He was chief executive of the NHS in England from 2000-2006.
In an article in Prospect Magazine, he states how vital it is that the NHS’s improved engagement with the charity sector expands post-COVID; he cites integrated grassroots community organisations like ours as crucial in addressing the social impacts of health that are often overlooked and undervalued.
Has the crisis forced us to create a more integrated health service? Read Lord Crisp’s article here.
Sir Michael Marmot is director of the Institute of Health Equity at University College London. He shares his thoughts in a Science Museum article explaining why COVID-19 is disproportionately impacting people from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. The conversation includes input from the Centre’s chair, Professor Ajit Lalvani, chair of infectious diseases at Imperial College London and outlines why integrated health and community approaches like ours are vital.
Read Sir Michael Marmot’s interview here.
Sir Michael completed his review into health inequalities in England earlier this year. His findings also underpin the need for more integrated working between the health and community sectors because good health is dependent more on economic and social situation than on access to medical care.
The Marmot Review 10 years on.
Want to know more about the Bromley by Bow Centre approach?
Our Insights team run knowledge-share workshops, seminars and talks to help you learn more about our integrated way of working and what can be achieved by collaborating to develop healthy communities.
