{"id":7018,"date":"2026-05-01T13:15:35","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T12:15:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ourdorset.org.uk\/innovation\/?p=7018"},"modified":"2026-05-01T13:19:25","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T12:19:25","slug":"our-big-conversation-2026-turning-insight-into-action-for-rural-and-coastal-communities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ourdorset.org.uk\/innovation\/our-big-conversation-2026-turning-insight-into-action-for-rural-and-coastal-communities\/","title":{"rendered":"Wessex Health Partners: Our Big Conversation 2026 – turning insight into action for rural and coastal communities"},"content":{"rendered":"

More than 200 delegates from across the region came together for Wessex Health Partners (WHP) biggest and best yet \u201cBig Conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n

The event convened partners from across the region to explore how research and innovation can play a stronger role in addressing health inequalities and improving access, outcomes and opportunities for people living and working in deprived rural and coastal areas.<\/p>\n

National context, regional action<\/strong><\/p>\n

The keynote address from Professor Sir Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England, set out the national picture of rural and coastal health. He highlighted how data sets are not granular enough, which blurs pockets of deprivation into invisibility.<\/p>\n

Reflecting on the event Professor Whitty said, \u201cMeaningfully addressing the health challenges in rural and coastal areas will require close collaboration with partners across the health system. The Wessex Health Partnership is a great example of this approach, with local partnerships driving health improvements for Wessex communities.\u201d<\/p>\n

Crucially, his keynote framed rural and coastal communities as testbeds for innovation \u2014 from new models of community\u2011based care and digital inclusion, to workforce approaches and prevention\u2011focused interventions able to inform national policy and practice.<\/p>\n

From insight to collaboration<\/strong><\/p>\n

Across plenary discussions, panels and parallel sessions, delegates explored how we can work collectively to move from insight to impact. Sessions focused on neighbourhood health, community\u2011led research, NIHR strategy, and the practical levers needed to translate evidence into adoption.<\/p>\n

Exhibitor stands and networking sessions further showcased the breadth of research and innovation already underway across Wessex, helping to connect people, programmes and infrastructure.<\/p>\n

Feedback so far is highlighting the value of bringing diverse voices into the same big conversation \u2014 researchers alongside clinicians, local authorities, voluntary and community organisations. Many feel the event created space to start new conversations, partnerships and ideas rooted in real communities and lived experience.<\/p>\n

Reflections from Wessex Health Partners<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cOur Big Conversation is about creating the conditions for real change,\u201d said Christine McGrath, Managing Director of Wessex Health Partners. \u201cThis year\u2019s focus on rural and coastal communities sharpened our collective understanding of where the challenges lie \u2014 and, importantly, how research and innovation can make a tangible difference when we work together across boundaries.\u201d<\/p>\n

Professor William Rosenberg, Chair of Wessex Health Partners, added: \u201cWhat stood out was the energy in the room and the appetite to move from discussion to delivery. By connecting national insight with regional expertise and community voices, we are better placed to develop solutions that improve health and reduce inequalities across Wessex\u2019s rural and coastal communities, and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n

Continuing the conversation<\/strong><\/p>\n

Our Big Conversation 2026 reaffirmed the power of partnership and dialogue in tackling complex health challenges. The insights, connections and commitments generated on the day will now inform ongoing work across Wessex Health Partners\u2019 networks and collaborations.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":70,"featured_media":7023,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7018","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ourdorset.org.uk\/innovation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7018","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ourdorset.org.uk\/innovation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ourdorset.org.uk\/innovation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourdorset.org.uk\/innovation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/70"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourdorset.org.uk\/innovation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7018"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/ourdorset.org.uk\/innovation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7018\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7026,"href":"https:\/\/ourdorset.org.uk\/innovation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7018\/revisions\/7026"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourdorset.org.uk\/innovation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7023"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ourdorset.org.uk\/innovation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7018"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourdorset.org.uk\/innovation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7018"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourdorset.org.uk\/innovation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7018"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}