World Health Day 2024

Today, we draw attention to World Health Day 2024. The day is celebrated annually highlighting a specific health topic of concern to people all over the world. This year, the day follows the theme 'My health, my right’ and was chosen to champion the right of everyone, everywhere to have access to quality health services.

The NIHR Newcastle BRC has been dedicated to transforming lives through world-leading research in ageing and multiple long-term conditions. The agenda at Newcastle is to ensure that people typically underserved by research are included, in both research studies and public involvement and engagement activities (PPIE).

We are the only BRC in the North East of England, an area that has a rapidly growing older population with considerable health needs. There is NIHR-supported evidence that clinically research-active hospitals benefit patients and patient care outcomes, increase confidence in staff, and improve clinical practice. Our experimental medicine and translational research aim to turn innovative ideas and discoveries into practical benefits for patients, as well as contributing to the local and national economy.

Research doesn't always take place where disease burden is highest. In some areas, there may be high numbers of a specific condition and few research studies available for people to take part in. Health and social care research must enable opportunities for participation in the regions and communities with the greatest needs. That includes not only cities but also the coastal towns, rural and semi-rural areas where many older people live.

The vision of the NIHR-INCLUDE project, which ended at the end of 2021 but has been absorbed as a knowledge resource into the overall NIHR Under-served Communities Programme, is to provide better health and care through more inclusive research. NIHR-INCLUDE has developed guidance to implement findings. The NIHR-INCLUDE Guidelines provide:

• a strategic overview of potential points for intervention to improve inclusion of under-served groups across the life course of research;
• key objectives to improve inclusivity;
• guiding principles for stakeholders to apply the guidance.

At the BRC, we embed these guidelines in many of our activities to provide better health and care through more inclusive research in ageing and multiple long-term conditions:

1. The NIHR Newcastle BRC is committed to inclusive research practices. For example, by actively involving diverse populations in clinical studies and trials, the centre ensures that research findings are applicable and beneficial to society We have developed a PPIE strategy as part of this commitment.
2. We are committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in our approach to staff, students and public contributors. This is reflected in our EDI strategy.
3. Finally, we are collaborating across industry, NIHR infrastructure, and NHS Trusts to build sustainable collaborations that translate discoveries into patient benefit and economic growth.

More about World Health Day 2024