London Health Commission

Report: 17
Date: 19 April 2001
By: Clerk

Summary

The Chair of the MPA met recently with representatives of the London Health Commission to discuss their invitation to the MPA to become a sponsoring partner. This report gives some details about the Commission and its work and asks the Authority to consider this invitation.

A. Recommendations

1. The Authority is asked to indicate whether, in principle, it wishes to become a sponsoring partner. If so, MPA officers will meet with the Commission to discuss in greater detail what this may entail. and
2. If it wishes to become a sponsoring partner, the Authority is invited to appoint its Chair as its 'champion' on the Commission.

B. Supporting information

1. The London Health Commission (LHC) is an independent partnership which was set up last year. Its overall aim is, at both a strategic and practical level, to improve the health of all Londoners, paying particular attention to diversity and health inequalities. The main vehicle for doing this is through:

• implementation of the London Health Strategy, which was published in March 2000;
• ensuring that other London-wide strategies, whether produced by the Mayor or other bodies, build in relevant measures to reduce health inequality, through the use of health impact assessments.

The London Health Strategy has been developed to work alongside and support the wide range of existing activity already underway in local communities.

2. The LHC consists of around 40 members drawn from different sectors across London. It has six core sponsoring partners:

• Association of London Government
• King's Fund
• Social Services Inspectorate
• London Regional Office of the NHS Executive
• Government Office for London
• Greater London Authority

3. Transport for London and the London Development Agency have also been invited to become sponsoring partners.

4. The role of these sponsoring partners includes:

• setting the LHC's overall direction and priorities;
• ensuring the successful delivery of its work programme and the London Health Strategy priorities;
• championing the aims of the LHC and the London Health Strategy within their own organisations and to others and demonstrating the links between the Commission and other local and London-wide initiatives; and
• identifying emerging issues relating to health improvement and health inequalities in London.

5. Although health inequality issues are not a primary function of the MPA, the LHC point to the benefit and necessity of taking them into account when developing MPA/MPS strategies. The link is clear in some areas, such as community safety and in working with vulnerable people or hard to reach groups. Membership of the LHC would also provide an opportunity to meet London-wide partner organisations with overlapping roles and common interests.

6. Each sponsoring partner appoints a 'champion', who should be a Member of the MPA, and a link officer. The champions meet once or twice a year for high profile events and PR events. The Chair of the MPA has indicated that he would wish to act in this role. The sponsoring partners officers meet more regularly to take forward the Commission's work.

7. The LHC have no fixed contributions for sponsoring partners, but all are required to contribute resources either through influence, funding or contributions in kind such as staff time or arranging events. The GLA, for instance, has made a significant contribution both financially and through the provision of office accommodation and staff resources.

8. Given that the MPA is still in a transitional stage, particularly in terms of recruiting permanent staff, it is suggested that, if so minded, the Authority should given an in principle decision on membership so that further discussions can be held to clarify the extent of commitment expected of the MPA.

C. Financial implications

It is suggested that the financial implications are explored further with the London Health Commission.

D. Background papers

• Invitation letter from the LHC dated 28 February 2001

C. Contact details

The author of the report is Simon Vile, Head of Secretariat.

For information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

Send an e-mail linking to this page

Feedback