Issue - meetings

John Radford, Director of Public Health, NHS Rotherham, introduced the draft 2011 Public Health Annual Report.

There had been a lot of changes in Public Health over the last year since the election of the new Coalition Government which had led to the publication of a new Public Health White Paper.  This built on the work of the Marmot Review and sought to tackle the major public health challenges facing communities including rising levels of obesity, alcohol and substance misuse and a high prevalence of smoking.  The review had a crucial relevance to the health of Rotherham residents as it set out a framework for systematically thinking through how to reduce inequalities at a local level.

Marmot’s review identified 6 high level priorities for action and evidence based objectives within each:-

-        Give every child the best start in life

-        Enable all children, young people and adults to maximise their capabilities and have control over their lives

-        Create fair employment and good work for all

-        Ensure a healthy standard of living for all

-        Create and develop healthy and sustainable places and communities

-        Strengthen the role and impact of ill health prevention

The draft annual Public Health report had been based on the above 6 priorities.  Guidance was sought as to whether this was the correct direction and for the basis of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

The next step was for the Health and Wellbeing Strategy which would be an integral part of the Council and the NHS’s approach to addressing the health inequalities in the Borough.

Resolved:-  That the report be submitted to Cabinet in due course.