How to improve the region’s health

One of the most important issues faced by the North East – its poor levels of health – will be discussed by a panel of the UK’s leading health experts, including the government’s Chief Medical Officer for England Professor Sir Liam Donaldson, at a conference at the University of Teesside, on Friday 18 June.

To help address this problem, and to suggest possible solutions, the University of Teesside’s School of Health & Social Care has invited expert presentations for the Improving Health in Teesside conference. It takes place on Friday 18 June, 9.30am – 4.30pm, at the Centuria Building, off Victoria Road, Middlesbrough, and will include talks from leading health experts, including Professor Sir Liam Donaldson, the Chief Medical Officer for England.

As the government’s senior medical advisor, Sir Liam is heavily involved in public health policy and is also a former NHS Northern Regional Director. Bringing with him a wealth of experience and knowledge of health issues and local understanding, Sir Liam’s keynote address will be of great importance for the region.

Professor Paul Keane, Director of the School of Health & Social Care, said: “The North East has amongst the worst levels of health in the country, indeed Europe, with poor diets, smoking, obesity and lack of exercise being particular problems. This conference will help to address these problems, explore the reasons behind them and look for possible solutions.

“Having Professor Sir Liam Donaldson attend is very important, as he brings an incredible amount of knowledge of the issues at hand, and I’m sure his talk will be of great interest to a lot of people.”

Other speakers include Professor Peter Kelly, Director of Health Improvement at the Public Health Middlesbrough Primary Care Trust, Professor Paul Johnstone, Regional Director of Public Health - Yorkshire and Humber Government Office, Professor Carolyn Summerbell, the University of Teesside’s Professor in Human Nutrition and a renowned expert in obesity-related disorders and Professor John Wilkinson, Professor of Public Health at the University of Teesside.

The conference will be of particular interest to local politicians, directors of public health, NHS Primary Care Trust chief executives and their staff, community workers, health visitors, academic staff and students and other community leaders.

There is a conference price of £35 per delegate. For further information, contact Sarah Hamlett, Conference Administrator, on 01642 384104 or via email: s.hamlett@tees.ac.uk

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