The Department of Health has set out the three priority themes
for the Live Better approach to tackle health inequalities.
Activities within the first two Live Better locations, which have
been identified by local stakeholders, will deliver across themes
of Starting Well, Living Well, and Ageing Well. They will also
promote awareness of health inequalities issues through community
health fairs, health checks and improving health literacy.
The initial Live Better locations are the Court District
Electoral Area (DEA) in Belfast and The Moor DEA in
Derry/Londonderry.
The three priority themes have been identified through engagement
with local stakeholders to identify health issues in their
neighbourhoods. They will involve:
-
Starting Well: children's oral health
(The Moor); childhood vaccinations
(Court);
-
Living Well: prediabetes, smoking cessation
and cancer screening (The Moor); smoking in
pregnancy (Court);
-
Ageing Well: frailty and falls prevention
(The Moor); connecting isolated older people
with local support services (Court); and
In addition, health fairs and checks will be provided in both
areas.
Health Minister confirmed the agreed outcomes
on a visit to a health fair hosted by Shankill Shared Women's
Centre in the Court area.
The event included information stalls, advice and support,
alternative therapies and health checks.
Health Minister said: “Health
inequalities represent one of my key areas of focus and I am
pleased to see its importance reflected in the Executive's
Programme for Government.
“Live Better has been designed to bring targeted health
support directly into communities by better aligning existing
resources and HSC services and focusing on making them as
accessible as possible and addressing local needs.
“I am delighted to be here today at the Shankill Shared
Women's Centre to see how events like this can place healthcare
into the heart of communities. I believe Live Better has the
potential to make a real difference to people's lives and I would
particularly encourage anyone who doesn't usually participate in
health events to come and get involved in the activities that
will be offered.
“I also extend my thanks to the local stakeholder groups,
GPs and HSC Trusts who have been working closely with Public
Health Agency (PHA) colleagues to identify the priority issues to
be addressed in the Court and The Moor areas.”
Some examples of programmes up and running or due to get underway
include: a physio-lead intervention on safer mobility, including
strength and balance exercises for older people with a text
message service encouraging participants to be more active; a
12-week community-led pre-diabetes intervention programme; and a
number of health check opportunities across the two demonstration
areas.
Aidan Dawson, Chief Executive of the PHA, said: “The local
community organisations and primary care providers collaborating
on Live Better are helping to deliver a community-centred
approach to support people who are impacted most by health
inequalities.
“The ongoing work by the PHA to help improve health and wellbeing
and tackle health inequalities in communities has the potential
to deliver better health and wellbeing outcomes, which is
complemented by the Live Better initiative.
“Over the coming weeks, I would encourage everyone to engage in
Live Better activities in these areas to find out more about, and
participate in, the project in their community.”
