The interplay between the health agenda and sustainable development presents many opportunities for pursuing the goals of improved public health and economic and social progress. Adequate health care infrastructure is essential for sustainable development, and the planning of this infrastructure needs to be integrated with planning for other public services. There is a renewed interest in the alignment of the public health and sustainability agendas and in the concept of ‘healthy, sustainable communities’.
Health care organisations, through their employment and procurement activities, have a significant impact on their local economies, and this has led to an awareness of the NHS as a ‘corporate citizen’. The NHS also has a major commitment to teaching and research, and is a major player, in partnership with higher education, in knowledge production and transfer. As health care becomes more pluralistic and devolved many health care organisations are seeking to better understand and strengthen connections with their local communities and, in the case of larger providers, establish their credentials as regional development players.
SQW is increasingly providing support to health and health care clients. We can offer an unrivalled ability to bring our wide perspective of economic and social development to bear in supporting NHS clients, private health care organisations and other clients who wish to better engage with the health sector. We can help clients navigate through the complex web of agencies and interests in health which is increasingly seen as ‘everybody’s business’.
Areas in which we have a particular interest are health and infrastructure, healthy places, health and sustainability, health and enterprise, health and education, health and skills and the NHS as a corporate citizen.
Examples of SQW projects
Regional health strategy for the East of England
SQW was commissioned by the East of England Public Health Group to prepare a regional health strategy for the East of England. Our work involved developing detailed terms of reference and defining the strategy’s remit. We then completed a review of the evidence base relating to the health of people in the East of England and the factors which determine health outcomes and health inequalities. SQW prepared the strategy for public consultation and facilitated a multi-agency process of action planning.
North West health and social care industries study
SQW undertook a review of the health and social care sector in North West England in order to (a) analyse the degree to which the industries display the characteristics of an existing or embryonic cluster, or the degree to which supply chains within the industries are influenced by other clusters’ processes; and (b) investigate the scope for leveraging the non-clinical activities associated with the providers of health and social care, primarily the NHS, to impact wider priorities for social and economic regeneration. The study involved the characterisation of the health and social care sector, the market dynamics associated with this sector and its links with other clusters. We consulted with health, social care and economic development professionals to scope out areas for joint action on social and economic regeneration priorities, using the leverage potential of NHS activities.
Cambridge biomedical campus – Enterprise Hub bid
On behalf of the partners in the proposed biomedical campus, SQW prepared a bid for an Enterprise Hub on the Addenbrooke’s Hospital site. This involved liaison with the hospital, medical school, medical research council and developers. We agreed the scope of the bid with the Regional Development Agency and drafted the bid document.
Business case for investment in North West genetics laboratories
On behalf of the specialised NHS genetics laboratories in the North West of England, SQW developed a business case to support a multi-million pound investment. The business case was developed in response to the Government’s Genetics White Paper, which challenged commissioners and service providers to put forward proposals which would substantially reduce testing turn-around times, increase laboratory capacity, provide flexibility for responding to future shifts in clinical demand for genetic testing, and reorganise services to ensure that resources were being used as efficiently as possible. Our work included facilitating agreements between the participating laboratories regarding the prioritisation of elements within the bid, modelling of capital and revenue costs, modelling future volume scenarios for the laboratories, and drafting the business case document for submission to the Department of Health.
Feasibility study on the potential use of Plymouth International Business Park as a health and medical science park
SQW was appointed (with BBP Regeneration and Oxford Innovation) to undertake a feasibility study for a medi-park in Plymouth. The focus was on using specialist property and related services facilities to support development of a medical technologies business cluster linked to the local hospital, NHS Trusts and University of Plymouth Medical School.
Review of UK-wide education and training provision in support of a Sector Skills Agreement for the health sector
SQW was commissioned to deliver a robust review of health sector education and training provision, to support development, implementation and monitoring of the Sector Skills Agreement for health, and to inform sustainable approaches to the continued review of, and employer dialogue on, education and training. This was conducted through development of a model to review education and training provision, and quantitative and qualitative analyses of education and training provision in three English regions, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Recommendations were developed which informed a gap analysis of skills demand and supply.