It will also help patients with cancer, kidney disease and cardiovascular disease improve their outcomes.
The charity awarded a £360,000 grant to a population health initiative that will see the creation of a new faculty of population health for the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust (RFL) and North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust (North Mid).
The faculty will enable and empower staff to use their routine interactions with patients to also help them address lifestyle factors that contribute to cancer and cardiovascular disease.
This approach, known as “Making Every Contact Count”, aims to save lives and reduce health inequalities by supporting patients to make healthier choices that are right for them. This could include working with patients to quit smoking, eat a healthier diet, become more physically active and reduce alcohol consumption.
Jon Spiers, chief executive of the Royal Free Charity, said: “At the heart of this initiative lies a simple yet profound purpose: to save lives. Cancer and heart disease continue to be major killers, especially for the most deprived in our communities. Through these interventions and systemic change, the new faculty of population health will help level the playing field so that everyone has an equal chance at a healthy life.”
Together, RFL and North Mid serve a population of 2.24 million residents.
