04/09/2014 - Permalink

Cabinet approves new Help2Change preventive health service

Related topics: Health

Shropshire Council’s Cabinet has approved the formation of a new preventive health service called Help2Change. This will be delivered by the wholly council-owned company, ip&e Limited.

Help2Change’s vision is to help Shropshire residents lead healthier lives, and will bring together a range of health services to prevent illness and improve wellbeing, including:

  • NHS Health Checks
  • Help2Quit
  • Help2Slim
  • Active4Health
  • DrinkSafe

Since April 2013, Shropshire Council has been given responsibility for health improvement and prevention services as part of the wider transfer of public health responsibilities from the NHS to local government.

Help2Change will now provide these services on behalf of the council, working closely with GPs, pharmacists, Shropdoc, community and voluntary groups, businesses, hospitals and NHS community trusts.

By bringing these services together, Help2Change will be able to offer Shropshire residents a more holistic and joined up service, providing a single point of access for health and wellbeing advice and support.

Help2Change will draw on a wealth of clinical and research expertise within the county and also offer services to other NHS bodies and local authorities beyond Shropshire. Income generated by this external trading will be reinvested into health and wellbeing in Shropshire, thereby benefiting local people.

Councillor Karen Calder, Cabinet Member for Health at Shropshire Council, said:

“We want to ensure that Shropshire residents have access to the best preventive health services, so that they can more easily make changes that benefit their health and prevent health risks from developing into long-term illness.

“We can achieve this by enhancing what we are already providing. What we are currently doing is good, and Help2Change will allow us to make it even better. I firmly believe that this new health organisation can provide strong leadership in preventive health both locally and nationally, and will bring great benefits to the people of Shropshire.”

For more information about Help2Change contact help2change@shropshire.gov.uk

For more information on public health initiatives go to www.healthyshropshire.co.uk

Cabinet approved the recommendations for the the formation of Help2Change on Wednesday 3 September.  To read the Cabinet report click here.