BMBC 21: Barnsleys Local Area Agreement 2008-2011

planning, transport and the built environment have far reachingconsequences for health and wellbeing.It is recognised that improvements in mental wellbeing are needed ifpeople are going to be motivated to address lifestyle issues such assmoking, improving nutrition and being more physically active. Alcoholuse, particularly among young people, is a high priority for action due tothe adverse impact it has on health and other issues. These includemental and physical ill health, domestic abuse, anti-social behaviourand many others.There are also concerns in Barnsley about high and rising levels ofsexually transmitted diseases, especially chlamydia, and high levels ofteenage conceptions, all linked to prevailing cultural norms, attitudesand behaviours.OUR APPROACH: WHAT ARE WE CURRENTLYTRYING TO DO TO DELIVER IMPROVEMENTIn Barnsley, a 3 pronged approach is being used:• Tackling health inequalities through prevention - a well establishedcomprehensive long-term public health programme has beendeveloped called ‘Fit for the Future’. Its main aim is to preventpeople from becoming ill in the first place. This is a long-termprogramme. The health inequalities that exist between Barnsleyand the rest of the country were systematically created overdecades and will require long term solutions.• Addressing the determinants of ill health - addressing the widerproblems that affect people’s health such as low income,worklessness, poor housing, family support and social networks,the environment and educational attainment. In so doing, it willcontribute to all aspects of the borough’s economic and socialregeneration, from social inclusion to neighbourhood renewal andwealth creation.• Improving the local health service in both primary and hospital care- improvements are being made in the diagnosis and treatment of illhealth. This means that people are treated quickly and fewer aredying early from their illnesses, but further improvements areneeded, especially in primary care.This approach ensures that work to both diagnose and treat the earlysymptoms of disease is coupled with longer term preventativeintervention to change behavioural and cultural norms and create ahealthier environment. The recently launched ‘Dying too Young’initiative gives impetus to the need to channel partner efforts towardsthe following improvement priorities:-SmokingThere has been significant improvement in recent years to reduce thesmoking prevalence rate across the borough from 33% in 2005 to 28%69Improving the Health of the Public & Narrowing Health Inequalities Barnsley’s Local Area Agreement 2008-11