Plan to Make Herts Healthier and Happier Place to Live
An ambitious plan to tackle the root causes of ill-health in Hertfordshire was officially launched yesterday (Monday 6 March) with a new explanatory video and user-friendly online booklet.
The three-minute animation and booklet explain how voluntary and community groups, councils, Healthwatch, the police, social care providers and NHS organisations plan to work together to make Hertfordshire a healthier place to live and work for our population.
The plan was formally agreed in December by the board of the new Integrated Care Partnership, who pledged to:
- give every child the best start in life
- support our communities and places to be healthy and sustainable
- support our residents to maintain healthy lifestyles
- enable our residents to age well and support people living with dementia
- improve support to people living with life-long conditions, long term health conditions, physical disabilities, and their families
- improve our residents’ mental health and outcomes for those with learning disabilities and autism
A version of the strategy has also been produced in an ‘Easy Read’ format, to meet the needs of people with learning difficulties or disabilities. The new documents will also be available this month as hard copies in libraries across the area.
You can see the information in all these different formats, and let the members of the partnership board know what you think about their plans, by visiting this web page: hertsandwestessexics.org.uk/homepage/22/our-strategy-for-a-healthier-hertfordshire-and-west-essex
Cllr Richard Roberts, who chairs the Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Partnership and is also the Leader of Hertfordshire County Council and the Chair of the Hertfordshire Health and Wellbeing Board, said: ‘The Integrated Care Partnership represents an opportunity for change – not just with organisations, the public and the voluntary sector working in a more co-ordinated way to proactively tackle health and wellbeing – but for our residents to have their say in how the work is delivered.
‘As we publish our new public-facing blueprint for this partnership, it is my hope that it inspires those who live and work here to get involved; to help shape our area into becoming the cleaner, greener and healthier place we all want to see for the future.’
The Rt. Hon. Paul Burstow, Chair of the Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board said: ‘We are really excited to be launching this lively and accessible new material and hope people will take a look and find out about how we will help make sure that everyone can live, work and play in healthy and safe communities, with the opportunities and support they need to thrive.
‘We have developed this strategy by listening to the views and experiences of residents and staff, looking at the information which shows where the needs are greatest, and focusing our attention where we believe we can make the biggest positive impact together.
‘Lots of our residents face really tough challenges every day. They may have had a difficult start in life, a mental health need or a physical or learning disability or are living with the daily responsibility of caring for a loved one who is unwell or ageing. I hope people will see from watching the video animation and reading the new booklet just how we plan to respond to this.
Cllr John Spence, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care, Essex County Council, said: ‘Our response to the COVID-19 pandemic showed what can be achieved when communities come together to support each other, and when county and district councils, the NHS, and the voluntary and community sector work together with a common aim.
‘With our combined commitment, expertise and resources, our partnership will help deliver the priorities that people will read and hear about in this new material we are launching today. And there’s information in there about how you can continue to tell us what you think and help us take the action we have pledged.’
Photo © Centre for Ageing Better