Health and care leaders from across Kent and Medway are meeting today for our third symposium.
For the past two years, key figures have gathered to discuss how health and care challenges can be addressed.
In that time, we have developed our integrated care strategy following wide engagement with partners and the public. The aim of this strategy, and our symposium, is to energise and enable partnerships that tackle the wider influences on health and wellbeing beyond the care the NHS provides.
Today the theme is prevention, and we will hear from a range of partners about the contribution they are making to improving the health and wellbeing of the people of Kent and Medway.
Follow this page for live updates on the day.
More than 130 people from partner organisations are at the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara in Gravesend this morning.
Jagdev Singh Virdee, from the gurdwara, is addressing people in the room with an overview of Sikh philosophy, the work of the gurdwara, and how it fits with the theme of prevention.
We are an ICP working together
Paul Bentley, Chief Executive, NHS Kent and Medway opens the symposium.
He said: "I would like to use today to be a catalyst and an accelerant. We are really clear that we need to do things differently. We do remarkable things but how do we make that more widespread and how do we make it happen all the time.
"Depending on where you are in the county, where you live, there is a 14 year difference in life expectancy and that is not right."
Prevention is better than cure
Vince Maple, Leader of Medway Council and Chair of the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Partnership, said:
"Prevention is better than cure. We need to make those outcomes for the people of Kent and Medway no matter where they live. Making sure people can have their voice heard and learning from lived experience is important."
The core business of public health
Anjan Ghosh, Director of Public Health, Kent County Council, David Whiting, Director of Public Health, Medway Counciland Dr Kate Langford, Chief Medical Officer, NHS Kent and Medway speak on the development of the integrated care strategy, how this feeds into prevention planning and the work we still need to do together to detect health inequalities and achieve good outcomes.
Anjan said:
"Prevention is hardwired into everything that we do. We need to magnify prevention and not just treat illness."
David said:
"We all need to be doing prevention and working together to do this. Each of us has a role to play and improve outcomes for more people."
Prevention showcase
Colleagues from Ashford Borough Council, Involve Kent and Faversham Healthy Futures, present on projects they are leading, with a focus on prevention in their local communities.
Presentations include:
supporting vulnerable residents in Ashford
showcasing the impact of the VCSE sector organisations on the local population
a citizen-led research and planning project focussing on the health and care needs of people in Faversham.
Breakout discussions
Breakout discussion groups are looking at six key areas in which those at the symposium play a part:
work and health strategy
prevent care leavers being statistics
green agenda
marmot places
ageing well
working as a system with the VCSE sector.
View symposium video
Watch the video to hear more from Kent and Medway ICS's 2024 symposium.
Marketplace
A marketplace with stalls from, health, care and council organisations will be showcasing services they offer across Kent and Medway.
Stalls include:
East Kent Health and Care Partnership (HCP)
Medway and Swale Health and Care Partnership
Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley Health and Care Partnership
Medway public health
Kent County Council, with stalls focusing on technology-enabled lives, involvement and information, financial hardship and several public health initiatives.
Closing comments
Takeaways and reflections from the leaders of Kent and Medway Integrated Care System (ICS) summarising the day.
Teresa Murray, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Public Health for Medway Councilsaid: "It is on us in Kent and Medway to make things happen. We are a health and care family, with common interests and we have a shared responsibility to give the people in Kent and Medway the best services."
Dan Watkins, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health for Kent County Council said : "It's really useful that we were able to hear your feedback today and use this to improve the way we work together."
Cedi Frederick, Chair, NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board said: "It's important that we reset the 'together, we can' message and really understand the importance of relationships and that everyone's voice matters."
