Health and well-being on the agenda at council meetings
The spotlight is being placed on changes which will enhance the council’s role in improving the health and well-being of people in Shropshire, as councillors discuss the latest developments.
At this month’s Healthy Communities Scrutiny Committee, councillors were given an update on the transfer of public health work currently undertaken by the NHS to Shropshire Council in April 2013.
Public health is about services and initiatives to prevent people getting ill such as help to stop smoking. The transfer of public health is part of the Health and Social Care Act 2012, which sets out a major reform of the NHS in England.
As part of the presentation on 8 October 2012, councillors learned more about one of these initiatives – Health Checks. This campaign aims to prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease, by encouraging people aged between 40 and 74 years old to take up the offer of a free Health Check when they are invited by their GP through the post.
The committee was also brought up to date on the role and structure of the Shropshire County Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) in the reforms. The CCG represents the 45 GP practices in the area, and its role includes the designing and buying of the vast majority of local health services, including hospital services, cancer treatment, community services, such as district nursing and health visiting, and mental health services.
Another item on the agenda was the consultation on the Draft Joint Health and Well-being Strategy which has been developed by Shropshire Shadow Health and Well-being Board, a partnership between Shropshire Council and the CCG. The committee was told that the responses received to date* showed broad support for the long-term vision for health and well-being in the county, and the immediate priority areas for action within the strategy. All comments received are being considered to develop the strategy.
Gerald Dakin, chair of the committee, said:
“It is crucial that we scrutinise plans for changes to health services from the outset to ensure they meet the needs our communities. Our role is to encourage transparency, involvement and accountability.
“We will continue to work with co-opted members who represent the interests of local patients and communities, and call NHS clinicians and managers, and council representatives, to our meetings to explain their plans and answer our questions, as the changes progress.”
As part of health and well-being developments, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet has also discussed how Shropshire residents can obtain the advice they need about living a healthy lifestyle.
At the meeting on 17 October councillors agreed the Making Every Contact Count policy, which outlines a commitment to making the most of all opportunities to help customers with information that could improve their health.
Ann Hartley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for health and well-being, said:
“The changes taking place enhance the council’s already considerable contribution to public health through services such as housing, environmental health and leisure.
“Making Every Contact Count is about building on this and recognising our increasing responsibilities right across the council. By providing further training it is proposed that we can give more frontline staff working in different areas the skills and confidence to, where appropriate, offer the chance to discuss health risks with customers.
“By working in this way, using as many opportunities as possible to provide advice or signpost people to other services which can offer help, we can help people before they get ill, improve health and well-being, and reduce inequalities in health.”
For more information about changes to the organisation of health and well-being services and initiatives click here.
* The consultation ended on 12 October.
