COLUMN: Preparing to address county's health issues

Nottinghamshire Health and Wellbeing Board's Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2018-2022 will address key health issues facing the county.

The strategy aims to boost the health and wellbeing of county residents through more joined up thinking and closer working between bodies across health and social care.

There is a huge amount of work already underway across Nottinghamshire to improve health and wellbeing which supports the delivery of our shared vision.

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We want to focus on issues needing a partnership approach. Our vision is working together to enable Nottinghamshire people, from the youngest to the oldest, to live happier and healthier lives in their communities, particularly where the need is greatest.

Some key statistics are:

1. Smoking in pregnancy is 50 per cent higher in parts on Nottinghamshire than the national average...

Two smoking in pregnancy groups look at key issues, monitor ongoing performance and deliver against action plans to reduce the numbers of pregnant smokers. The stop smoking service Smokefreelife Nottinghamshire works with midwives to help women to quit.

2. Some areas of Nottinghamshire have a population which is on average 69 per cent overweight...

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We will work with district councils and local businesses to develop the Healthy Options takeaway scheme giving customers more choice for healthier food.

3. Hospital admission rates for alcoholic liver disease in Nottinghamshire is 47.7 per 100,000 population, higher than the England average of 34.8 per 100,000 population...

Nottinghamshire Public Health commission a substance misuse service from Change, Grow, Live (CGL) which includes an alcohol hospital liaison team to put in place comprehensive care plans.

Partner agencies also support the most vulnerable families and individuals where alcohol is an issue.

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4. We have engineered activity out of our lives and now need to reach out to the most inactive to design localities with built in opportunities to return the balance...

We will work with Active Notts to find local solutions to develop more active communities.

We will bring together transport planning with local districts to better develop initiatives and improvements encouraging people to walk and cycle rather than drive – which helps improve air quality.

Life expectancy is a key indicator of health and wellbeing levels discovered as part of a joint strategic health needs assessment for Nottinghamshire, referenced in the strategy. The assessment shows people in Rushcliffe live on average 8.5 years longer than people in deprived areas of Mansfield, Ashfield and Bassetlaw.

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We know people’s health and wellbeing is mostly influenced by where they live, what they eat, their jobs, communities and family relationships and we believe that’s where we can have the biggest impact.

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