On Wednesday 15th October 2025, UCL Faculty of Laws hosted a half-day workshop, Health Justice Partnerships and the NHS 10-Year Health Plan, bringing together professionals from healthcare, legal services, policy, and research to discuss how Health Justice Partnerships (HJPs) can support community-based approaches to health reform.

As the NHS moves towards more integrated, neighbourhood-level care, HJPs offer a framework for addressing the social and economic factors that influence health. By providing free welfare rights advice within healthcare settings, these partnerships support patients in navigating challenges that affect their wellbeing—aligning with the NHS’s focus on prevention, equity, and coordinated services.

Opening the event, UCL Laws’ Professor Dame Hazel Genn, Director of the National Strategy for Health Justice Partnership, highlighted the shared goals of health and legal professionals: “HJPs are the result of health and legal practitioners realising that they are addressing common issues.”

The first session explored the policy landscape and strategic value of HJPs. GP Sarah Raistrick spoke about Coventry’s Marmot City work, and its partnership with Central England Law Centre to tackle poverty and health inequalities across the region. Clare Mahoney from Liverpool, Cheshire and Merseyside ICB described their long running ‘Citizens Advice on Prescription’ service, and recent research showing impressive outcomes for patients and health services. Cathryn Hannah from the Ministry of Justice discussed how HJPs support the government’s Legal Support Policy by helping people resolve problems early and effectively.

The second session focused on practice-based experiences from HJPs across England. Speakers shared lessons from service delivery and highlighted how integrated advice supports better patient outcomes. The panel featured Emma Bates (Central England Law Centre), Rhiannon Maddocks (Maternity Action), Debbie Nolan (Citizens Advice Liverpool), and Sylvia Ward (Citizens Advice Sheffield).

Suzie Forell, Research Associate at Health Justice Australia, provided an international perspective, outlining the structure, impact and challenges of similar partnerships in Australia.

The event brought together people from both health and legal sectors to reflect on shared challenges in tackling health inequalities and to explore how partnerships are supporting joined-up solutions across the country. As neighbourhood health becomes a key focus of NHS reform, Health Justice Partnerships offer a clear and compelling model for collaboration—bringing vital support services together to meet the complex needs of communities.

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