Conservative Controlled Council Pledges to Improve Public Health for Staffordshire People

New public health powers transferring to Conservative run Staffordshire County Council from 1st April offer a great opportunity to encourage more local people to lead active and healthy lives.

That was the view of Cabinet members this week, as they discussed a report on the formal transfer of public health responsibilities from the NHS to the County Council.

It means that from the start of April, the County Council will have overall responsibility for a wide range of services, including measures to encourage healthy eating, to stop people smoking and to exercise more.  Previously the services were provided by primary care trusts, which are being abolished in recent government reforms of national health care.  The County Council will continue to work with the local community, GPs, the NHS and district councils to improve public health.

Welcoming the new arrangements, Councillor Robbie Marshall, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Community Safety, said, “The transfer of public health responsibilities from the NHS to Staffordshire County Council offers a great opportunity to encourage more residents to be active, healthy and well.

“Preventing illness by promoting healthier lifestyles is a key priority for the County Council because treating people when they are ill is much more expensive than preventing them from getting ill in the first place and this new responsibility will enable us to do more to influence people’s behaviour, starting from birth right through to old age.

“We will ensure that public health services and the benefits they bring are equally spread across Staffordshire.  We will also deliver better value for money for the taxpayer by cutting the duplication that existed in the work of the council and health services in this area.

“Through closer partnership working with other public sector bodies and the voluntary sector we aim to provide a wide range of excellent services that contribute to improving the health and well-being of Staffordshire residents.”