27/06/2016 - Permalink

Shropshire Libraries highlighting Health Information Week

Related topics: Health / Leisure, culture and heritage / Partner organisations

Shropshire Libraries is joining in an annual campaign to raise awareness about health information available to everyone in the UK, in the first full week of July 2016.

Libraries will use their Health Zones and displays to highlight their health and well-being information and resources about a range of health issues, during a week-long information campaign.

Healthwatch, NHS Future Fit and People2People will be running drop in sessions in Shrewsbury, Oswestry, Market Drayton, Bridgnorth, Whitchurch and Ludlow libraries which will benefit the public and staff by raising awareness of the resources that are available to them. For more information about these sessions please follow the link to https://new.shropshire.gov.uk/libraries/library-events/.

Stuart West, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for leisure and culture, said:

“It is important for people of Shropshire to have easy access to up-to-date health information and support. Shropshire libraries engage with partner organisations to deliver and promote these services within their community.”

Karen Calder, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for health and well-being, and Chair of Shropshire’s Health and Well-being Board, added:

“Shropshire’s Health and Well-being Board’s key ambition is to ensure that we work together to improve everyone’s health and well-being, especially those who have health problems or are in difficult circumstances.

“Health Information Week provides a great opportunity for our libraries to really showcase the range of information available to help improve people’s health and well-being. Having accurate and relative information can help individuals understand their condition and assist them in making appropriate lifestyle changes.”

Sarah Greening, NHS Health Education England, working across the West Midlands, said:

This is a great opportunity for NHS organisations, public librarians, voluntary sector and social care staff to get together and not only share information among themselves, but also give people the chance to find out more about what health information is available to them, and where they can find it.”

Health Information Week is held from  Monday 4 July to Sunday 10 July 2016, and aims to improve access to quality local information and promote healthier communities.

For more information regarding health and well-being in libraries contact Mirka Duxberry, library commissioning manager for reading and health, on mirka.duxberry@shropshire.gov.uk or 01743 255031.

For more information about Health Information Week visit http://learning.wm.hee.nhs.uk/resource/about-health-information-week.

Support family carers in the county as well as providing flexible breaks for carers, the Carers Emergency Response Scheme and the Young Carers service – http://www.carerstrust4all.org.uk/

Find out how Shropshire Choices can help older adults choose the right options to remain independent and stay well at Gobowen Community Hub on Tuesday 5 July  at 10am to 12midday. Shropshire Choices – information about adult social care, housing, health,  and getting out and about. For more information see https://new.shropshire.gov.uk/libraries/library-events/gobowen-library-gobowen-central-health-information-week/ 

Related links:

Shropshire Libraries: new.shropshire.gov.uk/libraries

People2People: – www.people2peoplecic.org.uk/

NHS Future Fit:  nhsfuturefit.org/

Healthwatch: www.healthwatchshropshire.co.uk/

Shropshire Together: www.shropshiretogether.org.uk

Shropshire Choices: www.shropshirechoices.org.uk

Further information

Shropshire’s Health and Well-being Board is a partnership between local government, the NHS, voluntary sector and the people of Shropshire. It includes local GPs, councillors, Healthwatch Shropshire  and senior local government officers.

The board has been set up to ensure that we work together to improve everyone’s health and well-being, especially those who have health problems or are in difficult circumstances.

Shropshire’s Health and Well-being Board’s vision is ‘for Shropshire people to be the healthiest and most fulfilled in England’.

The boards aim is to ‘improve the population’s health and well-being; to reduce health inequalities that can cause unfair and avoidable differences in people’s health; and to help as many people as possible live long, happy and productive lives by promoting health and well-being at all stages of life’.

The board provides strategic leadership for health and well-being across the county and ensure’s that plans are in place and put into action to fulfil its vision.