Sheffield aims to be healthiest city

Sheffield City Council is leading local authorities in the region to take a coordinated approach to tackling the root causes of ill health – as the Council teams up with fellow Councils and the NHS to reduce health inequalities.
It comes as a new report published by the council highlights the role of local authorities in improving public health.
The Shaping Healthy Communities report is based on the council’s work with local authorities across the Yorkshire and Humber Region, and demonstrates how this kind of partnership work can improve standards of public wellness.
Kieron Williams, acting director of health improvement is the council’s lead officer for maximising the work the council does on health, and is looking at how it can strengthen the way it works with the local NHS for the benefit of all the city’s thousands of residents.
He said: “It’s time that local authorities recognise the enormous influence we have over things that enable people to lead healthy lives - such as making sure people have access to decent housing; safe neighbourhoods, good jobs and quality education.
“Many of the causes of health gaps in the community cannot be addressed through healthcare. We are more likely to make progress towards healthier lifestyles and preventing disease by improving daily living conditions, than leaving it to when people become ill.
“Local Government and the NHS have the resources and responsibility to adopt a joined up approach to tackle these issues.”
In Sheffield, Council leaders are confident the change in approach will bring about positive results, but maintain the city already ranks among the healthiest major cities in the UK.
Cllr. Gail Smith, cabinet member for healthy and independent living said: “We are making fantastic progress. For the first time in history life expectancy in Sheffield is at the national average, a real success for an urban area. We are also one of the few areas nationally that is reducing the heath gaps which exist within our population. But we want to do better. Our aim is to be the healthiest city in the country - something we know we can achieve.”
The Shaping Healthy Communities report is the result of a meeting between Council leaders, leading academics and healthcare managers who got together to discuss how to reduce health gaps in the region.
It was decided that in order to tackle the issues causing ill health, Local Authorities need to recognise this duty as their core business, and make stronger use of their relationships with the Health Sector.
Paul Johnstone Regional Director of Public Health at the Yorkshire and Humber Department of Health said: “The Yorkshire and Humber Department of Health Team is pleased to be collaborating with Sheffield City Council on this important work to reduce health inequalities. Sheffield has a long history of leading on this work which was recently affirmed by it being awarded beacon status for reducing health inequality.
“We know that to tackle this complex problem there needs to be a strong partnership between national and local government - for us, this report is an early product of this dialogue - we look forward to continued practical collaboration with Sheffield during the course of this year.”