What We Do: Nipa Shah, programme director of Brent Health Matters, Brent Council

Tell us about a typical working day at Brent Council

My day is usually a combination of meetings with my team and stakeholders to update priorities and keep things running smoothly. I also coordinate with senior leaders across the NHS, Council, and ICB to ensure our objectives align with other health and care work streams.

One of my favourite parts of the job is attending outreach events where I can meet and support residents directly.

What projects are you most enthusiastic about right now?

I am really enthusiastic about the community health pods we have installed in libraries and community centres.

These pods allow residents to measure their height, weight, blood pressure, and heart rate in a relaxed setting; any abnormal results are automatically emailed to their GP for investigation.

The pods also provide information on how to access local help for issues like mental health and smoking cessation.

What are the key opportunities and/or challenges for your work right now?

I think aligning the Brent Health Matters way of working to a neighbourhood level is a massive opportunity.

However, ensuring we continue to focus on tackling health inequalities at that same local level remains a challenge.

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