Ruth Harrell (Consultant in Public Health) and Gary Wallace (Lead Manager, Trading Standard and Health Improvement) delivered the Plymouth Health Determinant Research Collaboration (HDRC) annual update and discussed:

a)     The HDRC was a partnership between Plymouth City Council, the University of Plymouth, and the Plymouth Octopus Project;

b)    The HDRC was funded by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) and aimed to tackle the wider determinants of health inequalities in Plymouth, providing opportunities to undertake research, ask challenging questions and understand how wider societal issues such as education, poverty, housing, planning, transport and employment influenced the health of the communities in the city;

c)     The collaboration focussed on developing a learning culture, producing locally valuable knowledge, and using innovative approaches to inform decision-making;

d)    Researchers from the University of Plymouth were working alongside council officers to access evidence and evaluate interventions;

e)     Plymouth was one of 13 local authorities who had been successful in their bid for the HDRC, receiving approximately £5 million over a five-year programme;

f)      The Council was taking a human learning systems approach to meet individuals' needs and understand the complex paths to achieving healthy outcomes;

g)     The HDRC was collaborating with other coastal cities who faced similar problems to Plymouth, prioritizing projects which achieved maximum benefit;

h)    Researchers from the University of Plymouth were embedded within the Council to help access evidence and evaluate interventions;

i)      The Council was engaging with the NHS and the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector to leverage their contributions and innovative approaches;

j)      The HDRC recognised that results would take time to emerge, and that there may be a requirement to extend the programme beyond the five year project. The process for attaining this was currently unknown.

In response to questions, the Board discussed:

k)     The need to continue developing a learning culture within the Council to inform decision-making and produce locally valuable knowledge;

l)      Maintaining collaboration with other coastal cities and sectors to address common health determinants and share best practices;

m)   Ensuring that interventions were tailored to meet individuals' needs and considered the complexity of their lives.

The Board agreed:

1.     To note the progress made to date;

2.     To encourage ongoing collaboration between the HDRC, Plymouth City Council, the University of Plymouth, and other stakeholders.