Limerick Health Equity Region teams up with UCL public health

• Work commences with HSE Public Health to tackle child poverty and reduce health inequalities in Mid West
• Limerick to be first region in Ireland to implement Marmot Place framework

The Limerick Health Equity Region (LHER) has entered into a formal arrangement to begin work with an expert team of public health researchers in the UK, in another step forward towards tackling child poverty and health inequalities in the Mid West region.

The development is a major coup for Limerick, as University College London’s Institute of Health Equity (IHE) is a leading expert organisation in working with and advising policy makers and decision makers in 60 UK cities in delivering the Marmot Place framework.

Marmot Places are designated local authority areas whose public and community organisations work together in tackling health inequalities in their regions. The framework is named after public health expert Professor Sir Michael Marmot, who founded and currently leads the Institute of Health Equity.

The Limerick Health Equity Region will serve as a Marmot Place in Ireland, the first of its kind outside the UK. There are eight Marmot Principles that underpin the framework. Giving every child the best start in life will be the Marmot Principle of particular focus at the start.

Prof Marmot is one of the foremost pioneers of research around health inequalities, having advised the World Health Organisation on a social determinants of health (SDH) approach. SDHs are the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, and live that impact on health outcomes. Examples include housing, employment, and education.

The IHE commenced work in April, and will work with Public Health HSE Mid West, LHER leaders and stakeholders to create an evidence-based review of activities in the Mid West that address health inequalities; system mapping and support for implementing a health equity approach; and to develop a framework for evaluating new and existing programmes in improving health equity.

Professor Sir Michael Marmot has welcomed his team’s work with the Limerick Health Equity Region. He said:

Mayor of Limerick, John Moran, said: “Too many families in Limerick still experience poorer health outcomes because of where they live, the opportunities available to them, or the challenges they face early in life. We have the power to change this. By partnering with Professor Sir Michael Marmot and the Institute of Health Equity, we are choosing not to accept that as inevitable. I want to use this new mayoral role I have to do everything I can to build a more sustainable, equal future for many more families and children. If we are serious about delivering more for Limerick, then tackling inequality and giving every child the best start in life must remain at the heart of everything we do.”

Dr Marie Casey Acting Regional Director of Public Health, HSE Mid West, welcomed Prof Marmot’s team and the progress of the health equity work to date:

“We are honoured to share this space with and learn from the IHE. It is recognition of this important work which will lead to reduction in health inequalities in our most disadvantaged communities, and in the long term, create positive health outcomes for our most vulnerable in the future. It is also accountability that we will work together as agencies and communities to build a fair and healthy Limerick. The current coordinated work to gather important data and insights will help us immensely in developing a new way of working, both for and by the communities we serve.”

Notes:

* The Limerick Health Equity Region Oversight Group comprises senior leaders from Limerick City and County Council, HSE Mid West, An Garda Siochana, Department of Social Protection Limerick, Limerick Chamber of Commerce, Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, Limerick Probation Services, Limerick Prison, Mary Immaculate College, OSCAILT, University of Limerick, Technological University of Shannon, TUSLA and Limerick City Partnership.

** The Marmot Principles were coined by renowned Public Health expert, Professor Sir Michael Marmot. Prof Marmot is the Founder and Director of the University College London Institute of Health Equity, which supports regions becoming ‘Marmot Places’, which implement the eight principles.  The eight principles are:

1. Give every child the best start in life.
2. Enable all children, young people and adults to maximise their capabilities and have control over their lives.
3. Create fair employment and good work for all.
4. Ensure a healthy standard of living for all.
5. Create and develop healthy and sustainable places and communities.
6. Strengthen the role and impact of ill health prevention.
7. Tackle racism, discrimination and their outcomes.
8. Pursue environmental sustainability and health equity together.