The Health Improvement service was first formed in 2000. It evolved from the traditional Environmental Health Protection function in the Council to explore opportunities and influence new ways of working across all Council services towards health development and health improvement in the community.
The local authority is an important key partner for the local Health Trusts in the national challenge for health services to have an emphasis on preventing ill health. It is important, therefore, for local authority services to be regularly informed by annual local public health reports produced by the Director of Public Health in the Primary Care Trust and more recently Joint Strategic Health Needs Assessments.
The service further expanded in 2004 to incorporate an accessibility (transport) function to manage concessionary travel, shop mobility, dial–a–ride, and the Wheels 2 Work scheme. This element of the service explores opportunities to address local accessibility issues, as an important part of the health and well being agenda, particularly in rural areas.
Improving health in the community cannot be achieved by just one service in isolation. It involves the Council as a large employer, as a community leader, and all Council services in varying degrees, working with partners and with communities. Many Government Policies and local authority strategies recognise the role of local government in relation to health improvement and tackling inequalities. Almost every local authority service can contribute to the wider determinants of health. The powers and statutory responsibilities of the local authority give wide scope for action and participation in partnerships for health.
The health improvement service has therefore developed an important role, influencing changes in Council policy and services to deliver the corporate priorities and objectives in ways that underpin health and well being, through improved and better targeted working.
The service is involved in a wide range of partnership working, helping to deliver joint objectives and actions for improving health. Some health improvement initiatives are delivered directly by the service, by a small specialist staffing resource.
It is also involved in securing external funding for introducing health and wellbeing projects, including a Healthy Living Network project, the Wheels 2 Work scheme, and more recently a Community Food project, using food as a focus for improving health and well being in a targeted community.
Contacts
David Kidd, Service Manager, Tel 01625 504326.
Email: d.kidd@macclesfield.gov.uk
Sheila Woolstencroft, Public Health Improvement, Tel 01625 504318.
Email: s.woolstencroft@macclesfield.gov.uk
Craig Wallace, Accessibility Manager, Tel 01625 504349.
Email: c.wallace@macclesfield.gov.uk
Claire Whitchurch, Wheels 2 Work Project Co-ordinator, Tel 016250504348.
Email: c.whitchurch@macclesfield.gov.uk
Angela Gee, Workplace Health Officer, Tel 01625 504319.
Email: a.gee@macclesfield.gov.uk
