The council’s public health vision
Through the work of the council and its partners, and through the engagement, passion and commitment of Newcastle’s communities, public health will become a driving force in improving wellbeing and health and reducing health inequalities in our city.
What is the council doing?
As a council, we have lots of responsibilities for improving the wellbeing and health of people in Newcastle. From 1 April 2013, our role became even bigger as we took the lead for health improvement in the city.
We are well placed to embrace this challenge, given our existing work, unique knowledge of the future needs of the population, and our ability to influence a wide range of issues which affect wellbeing and health. For example, we know that transport around a city, or the house you live in, can contribute to your physical, emotional and financial wellbeing.
Health improvement involves taking action to create a society where everyone has positive wellbeing and good health. It includes work on things you’d expect - like diet and nutrition, tobacco and alcohol, physical activity, drugs and substance misuse, sexual health, pregnancy and children’s health. But it is not just about service delivery - it’s also about building wellbeing and health into everything we do as a city – such as creating jobs, shaping neighbourhood life and tackling inequalities.
To help us in this expanded role, the Public Health team have transferred into the council from the NHS. The public health team have specialist knowledge in fields such as health intelligence, health protection, health improvement and health and social care quality, so they will be ideally placed to help us build on our past achievements.
Cllr David Stockdale, the deputy cabinet member whose portfolio includes public health, has written about Public Health and the council’s new responsibilities on the Newcastle City Council blog.
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You may also be interested in:
- The Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust provides mental health, learning disability, neuro-rehabilitation and substance misuse services to the people of Northumberland and Tyne and Wear.
- The Stop Smoking Service offers free and friendly expert advice, as well as treatment, to those who want to give up smoking.
- Smokefree Newcastle is a partnership of organisations who are working together to reduce the impact of tobacco across Newcastle.
- Many local organisations have joined up to support people with drug and alcohol issues, including making sure affected communities are safe.