On Wednesday, 7 October, 2026, the Northern Health Science Alliance hosted the latest in a series of North of England Cross-Sector hub events with the Academy of Medical Sciences: Women’s Health in the North of England – Turning Evidence into Action.

The day featured presentations from key figures in women’s health, including Professor Dame Lesley Regan DBE, Women’s Health Ambassador for England, as well as academics and clinicians from across the North.

The event coincided with the launch of the latest Woman of the North report from our virtual institute Health Equity North. ‘Woman of the North: Closing the health gap for minority ethnic women‘ shows that minority ethnic women in the North of England face a lifetime of inequalities that stretch from childhood and maternity care to employment, mental health and later life, with major gaps in data concealing the full scale of the problem.

Ahead of the afternoon event, Health Equity North convened researchers, health leaders, policymakers, VCSE organisations and women with lived experience to discuss the findings and recommendations of the latest report.

The roundtable explored practical action to improve outcomes for minority ethnic women across areas including maternity care, support for VCSE organisations and inequalities experienced within the criminal justice system.

View the full gallery here.

All photos copyright: Hayley Gell Photography.