Health bosses publish six ways to wellbeing

Rotherham’s Health and Well-Being Board – which brings together local councillors, experts in public health, commissioners and providers of NHS services, voluntary and community groups – has identified a range of areas where local organisations should channel their time and money in tackling the major public health issues in the area over the next three years.

The six key areas are published in Rotherham’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy, a plan which will be used to guide all agencies across the borough in how they plan and deliver their services, and the targets they aim to achieve.

They were identified following a survey of people’s views at last year’s Rotherham Show and a series of other consultation events.

The strategy is trying to ensure that every person in Rotherham is able to make positive choices about how to improve their mental and physical wellbeing, and to making sure that public services do everything in their power to address the root causes of ill-health.

The six priorities identified are; prevention and early intervention – providing help to people early so they can stay healthy and increase their independence; delivering services to standards that meet the expectations of Rotherham people and which are tailored to the individual; making sure that people are increasingly able to identify their own personal needs and choose solutions that suit them best; Rotherham people will be aware of the risks to their own health and be able to take up opportunities to adopt a healthier lifestyle; they will be able to manage their own long-term health conditions in a way that helps them to enjoy the best possible quality of life and poverty will be reduced through decision-making that allows people to play a full part in everyday social activities and the creation of more opportunities to broaden their skills and gain employment.

Coun Ken Wyatt, chairman of the Health and Wellbeing Board, said: “Our strategy and priorities have been put together in response to our engagement so far with local people, health and social care professionals working in Rotherham. We are now feeding back to our communities to demonstrate how we have used the information and intelligence they have given us to develop our plans.”

“We believe we have properly reflected what people have told us – but this is a final reality check to make sure we have got it right.”

Comments are being invited between now and the end of August through an online feedback form available on the Rotherham Council website, www.rotherham.gov.uk.

A summary of comments received, along with the final strategy, will be published in September this year.