This week saw the publication of NHS Lanarkshire’s Director of Public Health annual report for 2023, which focuses on the theme of Anchor organisations.
Anchor organisations are typically large local employers that can have a strong and positive influence on the health and well-being of their local communities.
It is well known that socio and economic factors play a huge role in determining people’s long term health and Anchor organisations usually have well established roots and a significant stake in their local area.
They have sizeable assets that can be used to improve health and tackle health inequalities, for example, through procurement, training, employment, professional development, and buildings and land use.
Anchor organisations as employers can also make a difference to the health and well-being of their employees and NHS Lanarkshire and our partner organisations are very committed to working with anchor organisations in the local communities we serve.
The report also gives an update on the health of the population, our health protection work, dental public health and screening services.
Professor S Josephine Pravinkumar, NHS Lanarkshire’s Director of Public Health & Health Policy, said: “While Lanarkshire’s population is expected to slightly increase, we now have an ‘aging population’ and expect an increase in people aged over 75 and have fewer people aged under 30 over the next 20 years.
“However, life expectancy in Scotland and Lanarkshire has started to decrease in recent years and there is a huge variation between areas, with those living in the most deprived areas having fewer years of life than those living in the least deprived. In Lanarkshire, for men the difference is 11.3 years and for women 8.5 years.”
Josephine continued: “I want to thank my team, colleagues across NHS Lanarkshire and all our community partners for their commitment and co-ordinated efforts to improve health and wellbeing of the people of Lanarkshire.
“I am keen to build upon the excellent partnerships we share with local Anchor organisations and continue to strengthen our work on prevention and early intervention approaches to improve outcomes for the population of Lanarkshire.”
The report is now on the website at: https://www.nhslanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk/services/public-health/
We hope everyone finds this report helpful and would welcome any feedback and suggestions for themes for future reports. You can email us at PublicHealthAnnualReport@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk
