Annual Report 2004 - 05
Services
Public Health
The public health team at Cotswold and Vale PCT works closely with a number of partners to promote and develop good health initiatives for the local community.
The team has a successful working relationship with the Stroud and Cotswold Health and Wellbeing Partnerships. These groups bring together all the agencies involved in improving the health of the local community. The PCT is actively engaged with these groups through public health, community nursing and social services.
Some of the partnership activities we have been involved in during 2004-05 are:
- tackling health inequalities (eg developing breast feeding support groups
in Dursley, Stroud and Cirencester, and cookery classes in partnership with
the Churn Project);
- helping almost 1,000 people to stop smoking, in partnership with the
Gloucestershire Smoking Advisory Service, our GPs, local businesses
and schools (including Maidenhill School in Stroud, where a pilot
project is underway to reward classes that remain smoke-free);
- tackling obesity (we support a countywide obesity prevention co-ordinator
post and Get Cooking projects, exercise referral schemes, walking
projects and the Healthy Schools Partnership);
- improving sexual health;
- Choosing Health;
- providing T’ai Chi classes for older people;
- taking part in the Books on Prescription scheme;
- encouraging sensible drinking by working with the Crime and Disorder
Reduction Partnership, the Substance Action Group and Gloucestershire
Drug and Alcohol Awareness.
During 2004, the Department of Health asked people across the country to take part in a massive public consultation called ‘Choosing Health’.
In May 2004, Cotswold and Vale PCT joined forces with Stroud District Council, Cotswold District Council and the Stroud and Cotswold Health and Wellbeing Partnerships to host four local events.
The aim of these was to learn more about what importance people locally attach to health lifestyle issues, to raise awareness and to explore how we can help people to make healthier choices.
The events – which included presentations, display material and the opportunity for a mini fitness assessment – were spread across the PCT’s four localities, and were well attended by local people, including staff.
125 attendees filled in questionnaires, and we used the results of
these in our public health planning for this year. Questionnaires were
also sent out to partner organisations, including local councils and
the voluntary sector.
Headline results of the consultation
Generally, respondents thought that healthy eating and adequate levels
of physical activity were important health issues. Smoking was also
considered an important health issue, as was the use of illicit drugs
and sensible alcohol intake.
There were issues around road safety and concerns about the provision
of space for physical activity. We also found very strong support for
legislation to ban smoking in enclosed public places across all groups.
What now?
These results have helped to shape the action plans of the Cotswold
and Stroud Health and Wellbeing Partnerships.
Following the feedback received, we are working with our partners to help people make healthier choices in the areas they have listed as important.
For example: work is underway to increase the availability of physical activity, such as organised walks, tai chi, and exercise on prescription. Healthy eating is being promoted in the workplaces of some of the partner agencies.
The main recommendations of the white paper Choosing Health, published at the end of 2004, are broadly in line with the local findings, meaning that the PCT is in a good position to build on this work.
Following the success of our first Choosing Health events, the public health team ran a major Choosing Health workshop in July this year for over a hundred PCT and partner staff to build on the work done so far.
