A prescription for change

By Ged Henderson

02 Oct 2019

dsc_3614.jpg

The groundbreaking Lancaster project is looking to bring together academics, the business world, health and social care providers and the third sector in its work.

The 54-year-old has come from the other side of the world to take on the challenge. And she is relishing the opportunity to make a real difference – not just in Lancashire but globally.

She has an impressive CV. Early in her career she was a recipient of the Marie Curie Fellowship and was a lecturer at both UMIST in Manchester and Sheffield University.

She was also recently invited to join the International Women’s Forum, an organisation that advances leadership by connecting “the world’s most pre-eminent women of significant and diverse achievement”.

Dr Kothari said: “We are trying to shift people’s attitudes and behaviours. The creation of the HIC is very timely because of the pressure we face in healthcare, pressures on resources and the fact we live in politically very turbulent times.

“We want it to act as a catalyst to kick-start some innovation and new ways of doing things. One thing is clear; the status quo is not working.”

Dr Kothari spells out the challenges both internationally and closer to home in Lancashire. “We have an ageing population, we are living longer and we are also competing for resources globally.

“In this part of the world we have some of the country’s most deprived areas and neighbourhoods. We have some of the poorest health outcomes.”

She adds: “We are looking to shift thinking and behaviour when it comes to managing health and wellbeing. It is also about the awareness we have about what makes a person healthy.”

 And that is where Lancashire’s businesses come in. She says: “We want to bring people together to work on some of these significant challenges.

“If we are going to move from managing health and wellbeing to a culture where people take greater responsibility for their own health, we have to work collaboratively.”

Dr Kothari points to housing as one area where she believes that collaboration can make inroads in improving health and wellbeing.

She says: “It is about how we can create healthy places to live. To do that we have to look at how we plan housing developments.

“We need to look at the buildings themselves as well as the external spaces. That means bringing together businesses from the sector as well as town and urban planners.”

Her point is that businesses don’t have to have expertise or work in the health and wellbeing sector to play their part. “It is about taking learning from different sectors and bringing them into health,” she explains.

“Take Blockchain for example, it is about looking how it can be applied in education and the sharing of health data.”

Businesses involved in digital industries or producing specialist industries may not see themselves working in health – Dr Kothari says that isn’t necessarily the case. The HIC gives them the chance to explore opportunities.

She says: “Come and talk to us and we will use what you can bring. You don’t have to be working in the health space directly, but you may be able to diversify and bring your skills and apply them to challenges in health and wellbeing.

“We have to understand and acknowledge health is no longer the domain of those who work in health and medicine. We all have to come together collectively.”

A full version of this interview features in the current edition of Lancashire Business View.

Enjoyed this? Read more from Ged Henderson

Latest news

1

Businesses should look at Net Zero as an 'opportunity, not a challenge' Lancashire Net Zero Conference 2025

Businesses should look at Net Zero as an 'opportunity, not a challenge'

20 Jun 2025

2

£4m investment across East Lancashire power network EV electric vehicle Electricity NW

£4m investment across East Lancashire power network

20 Jun 2025

3

Your time to shine in the Lancashire Tourism Awards Winners Of The Lancashire Tourism Awards 2024 Held On Tues 11 Feb 2025

Your time to shine in the Lancashire Tourism Awards

19 Jun 2025

4

Employer event to help keep region’s workers healthy Ben Harrison

Employer event to help keep region’s workers healthy

19 Jun 2025

5

Plan to get Lancashire working Lancashire Combined Authority

Plan to get Lancashire working

19 Jun 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV123 July/August Launch Event
Lancashire Business View magazine launch
Networking
16 Jul 2025

LBV123 July/August Launch Event

Burnley

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers
WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion copy.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
02 Apr 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:00 - 15:30

Emergency First Aid at Work – June 2025
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
23 Jun 2025 - 23 Jun 2025

Emergency First Aid at Work – June 2025

FGH Training 3rd Floor, Storey House, White Cross Business Park,, Lancaster, LA1 4XQ

09:00 - 16:00

Business Bike Club – July
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
01 Jul 2025 - 01 Jul 2025

Business Bike Club – July

Various, Lancaster, LA

08:00 - 09:30

Chamber Breakfast Networking – July
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
02 Jul 2025 - 02 Jul 2025

Chamber Breakfast Networking – July

St John's Hospice, Slyne Road, Lancaster, LA2 6ST

08:00 - 10:00

The Marketing Metrics that Matter – July 4
LBV Hub Seminars
04 Jul 2025 - 04 Jul 2025

The Marketing Metrics that Matter – July 4

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

08:30 - 11:00

Chamber Summer BBQ
LBV Hub Social
17 Jul 2025 - 17 Jul 2025

Chamber Summer BBQ

The Borough, Dalton Square, Lancaster, LA1 1PP

17:30 - 20:00

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

North West Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880456273-4862066883-1-original.20241022-105445.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
24 Oct 2025 - 24 Oct 2025

North West Business Expo 2025

Bolton Stadium Hotel, Bolton, BL6 6SF

09:00 - 15:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV122 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin