Working towards a healthy economy

The negative impact poor health continues to have on Lancashire’s economic wellbeing was revealed to delegates at a major conference in the county.

Experts highlighted the urgent need to close the wellbeing gap that exists between the north and south of the country in order to improve Lancashire’s productivity.

And Lancashire Business View’s 2023 Health and Wellbeing Conference, held at Crow Wood Hotel and Spa resort in Burnley, heard how the Covid pandemic had added to the serious challenges already facing the county.

Adrian Leather, chief executive of Business Health Matters, headline partner for the event, told more than 80 delegates attending the one day conference: “Over the last 20 years there has been a growing divide between the north and south regarding levels of productivity, driven by poor underlying health in our communities.”

He revealed that some parts of east Lancashire were among the least productive in the country.

The conference also heard that the Covid pandemic had massively affected both mental and physical health, leading to Lancashire’s economy shrinking by 11 per cent.

Adrian said: “Critically we are not recovering at the same level we are seeing in other areas, particularly the south east and the biggest single factor is health.”

Lancashire’s economy is worth £30bn and at least four per cent of that is being lost annually as a result of poor health, the conference was told.

The county also has the highest proportion of working age people who are “economically inactive” – again as a result of poor health. That figure has grown significantly since the pandemic as businesses struggle to recruit the workers they need.
Adrian revealed that young people had suffered increases in anxiety, stress and depression, while there had been a massive increase of over-50s leaving work, who were now struggling financially and finding it hard to return to employment.

Women in areas of east Lancashire are also prone to develop their first life-limiting, long-term condition before the age of 50, leading to them withdrawing from work and having a poor quality of life.

Adrian told the audience: “The whole picture is evolving but we are increasingly understanding why physical activity, why mental health is important to businesses

“We need to turn the dial on this really big issue for Lancashire which has been there for 20 years.

“If we don’t get this right the division between what is happening here and what is happening in the south east is going to grow.

“We have got a responsibility to drive a positive future for Lancashire by increasingly focusing on health and wellbeing of our working age population.”

The conference was delivered by Lancashire Business View in association with Business Health Matters.

Delegates came from across Lancashire and the North West and included business leaders, health and wellbeing experts and organisations and professional services supporting the sector.

Key speakers included Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, Lancashire’s public health director and Hamish Hamilton, who runs advisory groups for chief executives and key leaders in the North West.

The conference heard of the efforts being made by Lancashire businesses and organisations actively working to improve the health and wellbeing of their staff and the support that is available from organisations based in the county.

There was also a special appearance by East Lancashire Hospital Trust therapy dog Alfie and the cutting-edge work of innovative Lancashire start-up businesses in the health sector was put in the spotlight.
Other speakers at the event included Lee Chambers, Essentialise Workplace Wellbeing, Dave Scholes, Six Connections, Sharon Robson, East Lancashire Hospital Trust, Sherry Kothari, Plama4, Niamh Allen, IoT Horizon, Steve Brennan, Bespoke, Emma Garner, Shelter Lancashire, Katie Quinn, East Lancashire Hospital Trust and Katie Willan, Calico, Rachel Fielding and Canon Andrew Horsfall from East Lancashire Hospital Trust.

The event was also supported by exhibitor partner IoT Horizon.

For a full report on the conference see the March-April issue of Lancashire Business View.