BMBC 21: Barnsleys Local Area Agreement 2008-2011

IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF THE PUBLICAND NARROWING HEALTH INEQUALITIESOVERVIEW OF THE OUTCOMEHigh Levels of Ill HealthBarnsley has historically suffered unacceptably high levels of ill health.This is partly due to its industrial past but is more attributable to highlevels of economic deprivation, and low aspirations and expectations oflocal people. The Fit for the Future Strategy is the main vehicle fortackling the poor health in Barnsley. The strategy is delivered througha multi-agency partnership and combines a lifestyle related programmewith work to achieve policy changes and actions on the widerdeterminants of health, such as transport, education, housing,employment and planning.Life ExpectancyRelatively poor life expectancy is a major issue in Barnsley. People areliving longer than their parents and grandparents with changes instandards of living and improved health care both having a positiveimpact. However, the gap between Barnsley and the rest of the countrycontinues to widen. Adjusting for age and gender, Barnsley’spremature death rate is 15% higher than the national average and 10%higher than the regional average.There are also massive health inequalities within the borough and thetargeting of particular hot spots is required to narrow the gap. In lifeexpectancy there is an 11.6 year difference for males and a 12.9 yeardifference for females in life expectancy between neighbourhoodsacross the borough.Lifestyle ChoiceWhilst there are a range of factors that have had a positive impact,people’s lifestyles and choices in relation to diet, lack of exercise andsmoking significantly reduce life expectancy. 80% of premature deathscould be avoided by changes to people’s lifestyle. These lifestylechoices are also powerfully shaped by the wider social environment.Fostering an environment that supports people to make healthierchoices is central to combating the illnesses arising from the moderntwenty-first century lifestyle.To improve health outcomes in the borough requires the contributionsof many agencies and the community itself. Policies that promotepublic health, such as the legislation to prevent smoking in publicplaces and the new nutritional standards for food in schools, help makethe healthy choice the easy choice. The ability to walk from place toplace, use the car less, the availability of efficient public transport,ready access to recreation and safe play facilities are directly related toincreasing physical activity levels and reducing obesity. Approaches to68Improving the Health of the Public & Narrowing Health Inequalities Barnsley’s Local Area Agreement 2008-11