Health remains a key topic in Shropshire’s Big Conversation

With health being high on the agenda both nationally and locally, Shropshire Council is asking all local residents to have their say on the subject in its Big Conversation survey.

The survey illustrates the challenges faced in Shropshire around health and the work the council and its partners are doing to tackle these challenges.

“An ageing population” infographic

Mental health, including dementia – infographic

The questionnaire asks what more the council, its partners and the local community can do help improve the health and well-being in the county.

So far nearly 200 have responded to the latest Big Conversation survey which launched in December 2016.  Many of those who have taken part in the survey to date have suggested that continued investment in preventative and leisure services is needed to encourage people to be active, and that decisions to cut or reduce services could generate more costs in the long term.

Cecilia Motley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for rural services and communities and Shropshire’s Big Conversation, said:

“Shropshire’s Big Conversation is the opportunity for you to let us know what more we could do to ensure that Shropshire continues to remain a great place to live, learn and work.

“We know that health is one of the most important and emotive issues for many people, and we want to find out what matters to you and how we can work with other organisations to tackle the health challenges Shropshire faces.

“Our Big Conversation survey is an opportunity for you to make suggestions, share ideas and any concerns. Please take some time to take part and tell us what more we could do.”

The Big Conversation survey also asks residents questions about their community and the local economy (the three main priorities in the council’s Corporate Plan – click here).

For more information and to take part in Shropshire’s Big Conversation survey visit shropshire.gov.uk/bigconversation. Hard copies of the survey are available on request by calling 0345 678 9028.

You can also follow and message us on twitter @Shropcouncil using #Shropbc, and Facebook.

Further information

What people told us about health and wellbeing in last year’s Big Conversation:

• Protect services for vulnerable children: the most important services are those for vulnerable children; education; and services for older people and vulnerable adults.
• Prevention reduces long term costs: you recognised that we spend the majority of our funding on adult social care and that early interventions and prevention to address long-term health could help reduce costs over the coming years.
• People need ongoing support: you highlighted the importance of tackling isolation.
• We could all do more to help: you noted neighbour support, volunteers and local groups as fundamental in looking after the interests of vulnerable elderly people; and you cited a lack of resources and adequate training as a barrier to supporting older people.
• Use new technologies: feedback suggested a better use of IT and digital developments could reduce costs.
• Work more closely together: you highlighted the need for partnerships across Shropshire Council and Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to align the delivery of health and social care services.

What we have already done and what we plan to do:

• Prioritised budgets: we continue to manage and monitor our budget to protect services for vulnerable people.
• Improving public information: we continue to improve the quality of public information. We are also making it easier for people and organisations across the county to access information through various communications channels.
• Changes in care on leaving hospital: our adult services and health colleagues are working more closely to improve the care and support for vulnerable people leaving hospital. This will ensure more people are able to return home safely and receive the right support to help them rehabilitate and regain their independence.
• Investing in community activity: The Everybody Active Towns community fund project has been designed to help motivate communities to come up with sustainable projects to improve physical activity amongst the less active. The project is now being rolled out across the county.
• Working in new ways: We are working with public health’s Help2Change service to help meet people’s needs through social and community-led support rather than more costly health interventions.
• Supporting public partnerships: we continue work in partnership with health and social care organisations to ensure health and social care services are better aligned and more integrated.

Shropshire’s Big Conversation

Residents and organisations across Shropshire have been invited to give their views on what more the council can do in light of its financial challenges due to ongoing cuts in Government funding.

The call out is part of Shropshire’s Big Conversation which launched in 2015 to better understand which services people value most and where the council should prioritise its budget.

Over 2,450 residents and organisations have already taken part in the Big Conversation survey and events. This resulted in Shropshire communities telling us that services for vulnerable children and adults, education and transport were perceived as priorities, where people felt savings couldn’t be made. Feedback also gave us an insight into people’s views on making savings, increasing revenue, and encouraging more local involvement in providing services.

You can find the full report on 2015’s original survey here