On Saturday November 14th the National Forum for Health and Wellbeing welcomed over twenty former chief guests and supporters of the Health Mela programme to a virtual get together.
The event aimed –
- to celebrate and put on record highlights of twenty years’ work in promoting
community health
- to recognise and express the Forum’s deepest appreciation of the countless
individuals and organisation whose contributions have played an essential part in its work over the years
- to launch a commemorative brochure, “Celebrating 20 years of the Health Mela”.
Professor Romesh Gupta OBE opened the proceedings welcoming guests and paying tribute to the many hundreds of volunteers who, over the years, have worked tirelessly to overcome health inequalities.
The Forum was especially honoured to welcome as first guest the Right Honourable Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP, Speaker of the House of Commons. Noting the Forum’s origin in Lancashire, Sir Lindsay spoke warmly of his experience of a Health Mela and recognised the important role these events played in enabling visitors to make informed decisions about their own health.
Following speakers each had a unique perspective on the twenty-year history of the National Forum for Health and Wellbeing. Maggie Rae for example recognised the important role it played in supporting family and community health. Together the guests painted a rich picture of the many and varied experiences and insights the Forum’s programme has provided for participants over two decades.
As the anniversary event unfolded, guests shared defining memories of Health Melas past. One told of a visit to the Health MOT resulting in his early diagnosis with type 2 diabetes and a subsequent positive outcome; a second recounted an opportunity to try, first-hand, what it felt like to be a patient in an ‘iron-lung’; a third praised the value of the experience students gained in talking over health issues with ‘well’ visitors and another recalled the sheer enjoyment of the day. These comments and many more like them are a valued indication of how worthwhile the Health Mela endeavour has been and continues to be.
The National Forum for Health and Wellbeing enters its third decade of activity in high spirits and with a determination to build well upon its existing achievements. In the words of Professor John Ashton, we can, “… celebrate the energy, creativity and commitment of all those involved and …. Look onwards and upwards to bigger and better things …”
Finally, members of the Steering Group of the Forum put on record their pleasure that so many friends and supporters have contributed to this Anniversary Celebration and look forward to many more years of collaboration to achieve our shared goals.
If you would like to experience the celebration first-hand you can find a recording of it on the YouTube at:
The Anniversary Brochure is available to read using the link below:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/4djmluvofgg6mxq/NFHW-20-anniversary-spreads.pdf?dl=0
List of Guests in order of appearance
The Right Honourable Sir Lyndsay Hoyle MP – Speaker of the House of Commons
The Lord Shuttleworth KG, KCVO – Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire
Professor Maggie Rae – President, Faculty of Public Health
Dr Francis Andrews – Medical Director, Royal Bolton Hospital
Professor John Ashton CBE – Former President, Faculty of Public Health
Mr Stuart Heys – former Chairman, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Dr Rajeev Gupta – Consultant Paediatrician, Barnsley Hospital NHS Trust
Mr Ishwer Tailor MBE DL JP – President, Gujarat Hindu Society, Preston
Dr Martin Myers MBE and colleagues – The ‘Blood Drop’ Team, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Professor Chris Moulton – former Vice-President, Royal College of Emergency Medicine
Professor Rob Campbell – former Pro-vice Chancellor, University of Bolton
Mr Russell Hogarth – Hon. Fellow, University of Central Lancashire
Professor John Middleton – former President, Faculty of Public Health, President Association of Schools of
Public Health in the European Region
Rtn Kevin Walsh – former District Governor, Rotary Cumbria and Lancashire
Dr Alka Gupta – GP Manchester
Professor Satyan Rajbhandari – Consultant Physician, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Professor Ruth Hussey – CB, OBE, DL – former Chief Medical Officer, Wales
Dr Mike Cheshire – former Medical Director, NHS North West
Dr Abhay Vaidya – retd Consultant Anaesthetist, past PBL Facilitator, University of Central Lancashire
Sarifa Kabir – Child & Young Person Advocate, SAFE Centre, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Professor Sir Graeme Catto FRSE – Former President, General Medical Council
Professor Dame Christine Beasley = Former Chief Nursing Officer, England
Dr Chandrika (Madhu) Shah – NFHW member and former GP
The Forum also gratefully acknowledges the contribution of Dr Kailash Chandh now sadly deceased.
Below are some of the screenshots (courtesy of Mr Russell Hogarth) of the event
