Bringing different perspectives into one room
Opening the event, Duncan Kerr, CEO of Hillbrow Health & Wellbeing and Wave Active, reflected on the importance of bringing healthcare, physical activity and wellbeing closer together, and of creating opportunities for different sectors to collaborate around the needs of the local community.
We were delighted to welcome a strong line-up of speakers, including Professor Scarlett McNally OBE, Consultant Surgeon and lead author of Exercise: The Miracle Cure; Dr Nick Harvey, GP, Eastbourne Integrated Care Team Chairman and Co-Founder of Hillbrow Health & Wellbeing; Professor Chris Warwick, Primary Care Dean and Deputy Postgraduate Dean for NHS England and Jon Hymus, CEO of Innerva. A special thank you also to Adam Campbell, who expertly chaired the panel discussion and helped guide a lively and engaging conversation around prevention, workforce, local health priorities and collaboration
A challenge to put prevention into practice
Professor Scarlett McNally opened the main discussion with a provocation centred on a simple message: prevention is better than cure, and physical activity has an important role to play in preventing and managing ill health. Her presentation explored how aerobic activity, strength and balance can support healthier ageing, independence and resilience, including in relation to frailty and falls.
Professor Scarlett McNally’s presentation slides: https://hillbrowhealthandwellbeing.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Hillbrow-Scarlett-McNally-1.10.26-with-links-2.pdf
The subsequent panel discussion explored how this message could translate into local action. Speakers considered Eastbourne’s health priorities, the role of the workforce, the contribution of the health and fitness sector, barriers around policy, funding and referral pathways, and what is needed to build momentum over the next 12 months.
Networking, local services and practical demonstrations
The networking session gave attendees the opportunity to meet local organisations and partners, connect with Eastbourne’s Integrated Care Team priority leads and learn more about local services. Priority areas represented included proactive population health, integrated multidisciplinary delivery, community partnership, prevention and patient voice, and workforce development.
Attendees were also able to experience Innerva equipment brought in especially for the event. The demonstration gave people the chance to try the technology first-hand and discuss how supported physical activity can help build strength, confidence and independence. Similar Innerva equipment is already being used in the community in Lilian’s Room at Wave Active.
Continuing the conversation through the Roundtable
The afternoon continued with an Roundtable focused on the shared ambition to help reduce pressure on A&E. A particular emphasis was placed on preventing avoidable admissions associated with frailty and falls, while also looking ahead to wider challenges including mental health, diabetes and improving access to services through transport.
The value of the day was in bringing together people who approach health and wellbeing from different angles, creating the opportunity to move beyond individual services and consider how clinicians, community partners, physical activity providers, decision-makers and innovators can work together around common priorities.
Looking ahead
Save the date: Thursday 7 October 2027
Hillbrow would like to thank all speakers, contributors, partners and attendees who took part in the Symposium and Roundtable and helped make the day a valuable opportunity to connect, learn and share ideas.
Working together to enable the best possible health and wellbeing in our community.
Kindly sponsored by
