Wales to benefit from UK investment tackling health inequality through local government research

Torfaen and Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Councils are the Welsh local authorities benefitting from a £55 million research investment aiming to tackle health inequalities and improve health outcomes for people across the UK.

The Department of Health and Social Care, through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), is investing a second wave of funding into 11 new Health Determinants Research Collaborations (HDRCs) over the next 5 years.

These innovative local government partnerships span the UK and will boost research capacity and capability in some of the UK’s most deprived communities.

The 11 new HDRCs, including Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, are expected to go ‘live’ on 1 January 2024.  A further 6 HDRCs, including Torfaen County Borough Council, will start on 1 January 2025, providing agreed criteria are met during their development year. The new HDRCs follow in the footsteps of 13 successful HDRCs that have already been established following the first wave of funding.

Michael Bowdery, Head of Programmes at Health and Care Research Wales, said:

By boosting partnerships between local government and the academic sector, the HDRCs will help embed research in local government decision-making, creating a culture of using evidence to address inequalities and make improvements to people’s lives.

“It’s fantastic to see two Welsh authorities winning funding to drive forward such activity in Wales. We look forward to following their research journey.”

Building local government infrastructure

This major investment will provide infrastructure to enable local authorities to become more research-active with the aim of reducing pressure on NHS services by improving public health.

Examples include facilitating research to better understand and introduce interventions to help with drug-related deaths, violent crime, issues facing children and young people, employment, and skills, as well as tackling health inequalities and wider deprivation.

For a full list of the local authorities from across the UK receiving funding read the NIHR news piece here.