The Chamber is proud to host the Thames Valley’s only region-wide, curated, life sciences working group.

The industry-led group serves as a vital platform for collaboration, convening global corporates, innovative SMEs, academic institutions and educational establishments (including those linked to our LSIP), NHS trusts, government stakeholders, professional bodies and pre-eminent thought leaders. 

Driving the debate, our group members consider national policy issues and challenges, shaping the sector response and Parliamentary engagement.  The group informs our policy work.  It helps identify the commercial drivers and opportunities that ensure we position life sciences, one of the UK’s key growth sectors, at the very heart of the government’s ambitions, and recognising the Thames Valley as part of their solution, delivering, growth to the economy and positioning the UK as a science and technology super-power.

Women’s Health – the biological bias affecting half the population

Agenda

Industry recognises that addressing inequalities in women’s health is a significant challenge, one that demands collective action and long-term commitment. Across the region, and through the work of key partners, such as the ABHI and many of our members, there is a consistent message that women face significant inequities experience in health – it’s Time to Listen. Time to Act.

If the UK is to deliver on its ambitions for economic growth and higher productivity, there is now an unquestionable imperative to act. Women’s health is not a niche issue. It is central to the health and prosperity of our society. As an industry, and as the health service, we must listen, learn, and lead meaningful change.

Key Facts

• Women spend 25% more of their lives in poor health compared with men.
• Only 5% of global research funding is directed towards women’s health.
• Closing the women’s health gap could deliver £32 billion to the UK economy each year.
• There are currently 600,000 women on gynaecology waiting lists, the fastest-growing backlog in the NHS.
• Every £1 invested in women’s health returns an estimated £11 to the economy.

Renewed Drive and Focus on Women’s Health

Following the publication of the 10 Year Health Plan, government outlined its ambition to improve women’s healthcare and create a system that listens to women’s experiences and tackles the inequalities they face. A new Women’s Health Strategy will set out how the government will take the next steps to improve access and tackle these inequalities. We have opportunity to potentially inform and shape this strategy, in the same way as we commented on the Industrial Strategy.

We will consider the economic imperative of women’s health and through a workshop format break into groups to consider how, as a Thames Valley region, we can look to help contribute to tackling these inequalities, how best to shape a working group submission to the Women’s Health Strategy, identify and share good practice and outline the work/research being undertaken – inviting wider working group involvement.  

 

Speakers

We are pleased to welcome Jane Lewis, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer at ABHI who is responsible for guiding the Institute’s work in Health Inequalities and Women’s Health.  

Other speakers/panellists to be confirmed early in the New Year.

 

Find Out More

This is an invitation only meeting. We welcome expressions of interest from organisations with direct knowledge, expertise and experience in life sciences and an operational link to the Thames Valley.

For Chamber members, to express your interest in attending please contact your account manager. For non-member businesses, please contact the Business Representation and Policy Team.