Inventing our future Collective action for a sustainable economy

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Strategic Priority 8: To harness the East of England’s international position
to encourage learning, knowledge development and R&D for health
8.8 The East of England has substantial knowledge-based assets. Our proximity to the rest of Europe – and
indeed further afield – ought to provide a basis for wider engagement and learning. And potentially,
this could bring important health benefits to the Region. As a long-term priority within Healthy
Futures, links of this nature ought to be harnessed.
8.9 One dimension concerns the health of people in the East of England in relation to international
comparators. When considered on an international stage, the health of people in this Region is
quite poor; health outcomes in parts of Scandinavia, for example, appear to be much better. There
are data challenges linked to making robust assessments, both in terms of the units for data collection
and the manner in which data are gathered. Hence statistical ‘proof’ is hard to come by. This should
not however prevent the Region learning from elsewhere, particularly from areas that are comparable
in socio-economic terms.
Strategic Priority 8: To harness the East of England’s international position
to encourage learning, knowledge development and R&D for health
Action Area Actions Milestones
Harnessing opportunities
provided by the EU
Generating evidence-based
policies and practice
8-1: Ensure that routine health
data are published alongside
European comparator information
where this is available and
appropriate
8-2: Explore opportunities to
participate in health-related EU
programmes linked to the pursuit
of Healthy Futures
8-3: Improve networking across
public health research in the East
of England to ensure that the
research needs of the Region
are met more efficiently
8-4: Maximise the benefits
of health-related research
in the Region
• ERPHO’s work on EU
comparators continues
• The findings are disseminated
to regional partners
• Relevant programmes
are identified
• Regional agencies/organisations
are encouraged to participate
• Scoping meeting is completed,
focusing on the priorities
identified in Healthy Futures
• Appropriate actions are
identified
• Scope of health-related research
is better understood
• Linkages are made more
strongly to the benefit
of the Region