Dr Christopher Chiswell has joined University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT) as the Trust’s first consultant in public health medicine.
In his role as Public Health Consultant, Dr Chiswell will focus on how UHMBT supports health at a population level, and how the Trust can improve outcomes, particularly for those who experience the most disadvantage.
The aim of the new role is to help reduce ill health and tackle health inequalities, supporting UHMBT to work more closely with communities and other organisations, and to take action on core issues such as tobacco dependency and alcohol misuse.
Dr Chiswell said: “If we’re to fulfil our purpose to deliver the best possible results for the people of Morecambe Bay, we have to connect with patients in the context of their whole lives.
“My role will help the Trust to use evidence to provide outstanding care, to work more closely in partnership with others and to maximise the impact of our resources.”
Dr Chiswell previously worked in a similar role for ten years at Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust, where he was the first consultant appointed to an acute trust in the West Midlands.
He said: “I am delighted to be appointed to this new role. If we can connect the dots between NHS care and wider population health, UHMBT will not only be able to help local communities when they are sick, but we can also be a part of helping them stay well to enjoy happier, longer lives.”
Dr Chiswell also brings with him particular interests in reducing harm from environmental tobacco smoke exposure, the impact on health of climate change, promoting active travel and setting priorities in healthcare spending.
He is working across Morecambe Bay, at each of the Trust’s sites and out into the communities that the Trust serves, alongside partner organisations. He will also be leading an expansion of the Trust’s resources around health inequalities in the near future.