Bold new partnership to improve population health in north west London
Bold new partnership to improve population health in north west London
27 April 2026
Over the next 24 months, the charity will invest in and support between 10 and 20 joint population health projects with the Trust. Together, these projects will focus on improving health outcomes for local people, while also tackling the unfair and avoidable differences in health and access to care experienced by many communities across the region.
Population health takes a wider view of health than traditional healthcare. Rather than focusing only on individual treatment, it looks at the health of whole communities and the social, economic and environmental factors that shape people’s lives and their opportunities to stay well.
This new programme sets out a new way of working between the charity and the Trust, with shared planning, joint decision-making and a commitment to learning together.
The initial focus will be on areas where this joint work can have the greatest impact, including maternity services, children’s health, cancer care and outpatient services, while continuing to take a whole-population view of need across north west London.
Central to the programme is the recognition that health does not begin at the hospital door, it starts in homes, schools, workplaces and neighbourhoods, and that the NHS cannot improve health alone. This programme reflects a deliberate shift towards “doing with, not doing to”, working alongside communities, listening first and sharing power in shaping priorities, decisions and solutions.
Dr Ben Holden, joint Director of Population Health at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, said:
“We are excited to enter this next phase of our longstanding partnership with Imperial Health Charity, strengthening our shared commitment to improving population health and advancing health equity across north west London. Through joint working, we will better connect clinical teams and community partners to deliver lasting change for our patients, staff, and local communities.”
The programme will be delivered through three connected areas of work:
Growing community engagement
An investment in communities through targeted, longer-term funding that supports community-led approaches. This will include involving local people more directly in setting priorities, shaping services and making decisions, building on existing programmes and relationships.
This work builds on Imperial Health Charity’s Compassionate Communities programme, which has already supported local people to develop solutions that respond to their communities’ strengths and needs. Through this new approach, these relationships will be strengthened further and more closely connected to Trust services and clinical teams.
Increasing population health impact
The programme will support practical changes to improve access to care and health outcomes. A Joint Population Health Strategy Unit has been established, bringing together teams from both organisations to better align priorities, expertise and resources, and to support coordinated action across the charity and the Trust.
Influencing and learning
The programme will work will share and embed learning through partnerships, networks and policy engagement, helping to influence thinking and practice across north west London. This builds on existing work and expands both organisations’ ability to work at scale.
Gail Scott‑Spicer, our Chief Executive, said:
“For the charity and the Trust, improving population health and reducing health inequalities is a shared priority that sits at the heart of our strategies. It shapes how we work, what we fund and who we work with. We have a shared ambition to improve the health of local people in ways that last, and this programme reflects a deep commitment to joint working that builds on strong foundations and looks firmly to the future.”
