New public health report highlights the building blocks for healthier lives in Buckinghamshire
Helping people to live longer, healthier lives is a key priority for Buckinghamshire Council with a wide range of initiatives focused on improving health outcomes for residents across the county.
The latest Director of Public Health Annual Report (DPHAR) is an independent and expert assessment of health in Buckinghamshire and looks more closely at how influences around us such as our homes, education and social connections can impact our health and highlights the importance these building blocks play in shaping people’s opportunities to live healthy and fulfilling lives.
From the food we eat to the neighbourhoods we live in, the report examines the correlation between the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age, and how these factors influence our health and wellbeing.
The report provides an overview of progress and priorities for improving health outcomes in the county. While Buckinghamshire is widely considered to be an affluent area where the majority of people have access to positive building blocks for health, the report highlights that this isn’t the experience of all residents. Differences in opportunity contribute to inequalities in health and wellbeing, with some communities facing greater challenges than others.
The report outlines how the council is already working with partners to address these inequalities by focusing on prevention, reducing risk factors and creating the conditions that help people stay healthy for longer. It also highlights the importance of going further by coordinating actions across organisations and utilising our collective ability to deliver sustainable long-term improvements in health outcomes.
Some of the initiatives already established that are featured in the report include the Healthy School Neighbourhoods programme, Opportunity Bucks initiative, and the development of Best Start in Life Family Hubs, which aim to give children and families the strongest possible start.
David Munday, Buckinghamshire Council’s Director of Public Health, said:
"Good health is shaped by much more than healthcare services alone. The places we live, the opportunities we have in education and employment, the quality of our housing and our social connections all play a significant role in determining health outcomes. This report highlights the importance of strengthening these building blocks of health across Buckinghamshire and shows how, by working together with partners and communities, we can help ensure that all residents have the opportunity to flourish, leading healthy and fulfilling lives."
Isobel Darby, Buckinghamshire Council's Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said:
"This report provides valuable insight into the factors that influence health and wellbeing across our county. As a council we will carefully consider the report's recommendations and determine how we may be able to incorporate them and those of our partners into our ongoing work to create thriving communities across Buckinghamshire. By continuing to focus on prevention and the building blocks that support healthy lives, we can help improve outcomes for residents and reduce inequalities, ensuring people and communities can thrive now and in the future."
As part of the council's ongoing commitment to improving wellbeing and reducing health inequalities, the findings and recommendations within the Director of Public Health's Annual Report will be considered by the council and used to inform future work, supporting residents through a building blocks approach that promotes long-term, sustainable outcomes.