Living a healthy, happy life for as long as possible for Lanarkshire residents can only be achieved by improving the health and wellbeing of the local population as well as preventing poor health.
NHS Lanarkshire has committed to provide £4 million over a three-year period toward population health actions through the Community Planning Partnerships (CPPs) in North and South Lanarkshire.
The investment will specifically focus on early years and child poverty to provide practical, evidence-based and collaborative interventions.
By supporting people’s health and wellbeing we are making a key commitment to reducing inequality, tackling child poverty and building a fairer Lanarkshire.
NHS Lanarkshire’s new Chair Katharina Kasper, who joined the Board last week (w/b 26 Jan), is an advocate for the health and wellbeing of children and is also Chair of Children’s Hearings Scotland.
Katharina said: “Having just joined as Chair of NHS Lanarkshire, I’m immediately impressed by the Board’s commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of children.
“This investment over the next three years can change lives. It is my commitment to the residents of Lanarkshire that I, as Chair of NHS Lanarkshire, will support the positive work that NHS Lanarkshire and our partners will be undertaking over the coming years, as part of the Scottish Government’s 10-year Population Health Framework that addresses social determinants of health, ensuring alignment with local priorities.”
Scott Haldane, a Non-Executive Director on the Board of NHS Lanarkshire and Chair of the Population Health Committee, said: “Improving the lives of people in Lanarkshire can start by supporting young children and child poverty through all our public services and community organisations working together so children and families have access to good quality health and social care services that work to support them and their individual needs.
“The commitment by NHS Lanarkshire to provide investment for an initial three-year period as part of the national 10-year Population Health Framework will contribute massively to improving the health of the people in Lanarkshire. By working together we can create a place where people and communities have the opportunities to live healthier, fulfilling lives.”
Louise Long, Chief Executive of NHS Lanarkshire, is committed to improving the health of the people in Lanarkshire, in particular young children and children living in the most deprived and poor areas of Lanarkshire. However, she recognises that health is not just determined by what happens within the health and care system.
Louise added: “As large part of what affects health happens outside the health and care system. The NHS is just one part of a range of sectors and organisations that must focus on preventing ill health.
“In Lanarkshire, we want to achieve this by tackling root causes of ill health and preventing poor health developing, which is the key to ensuring people live healthier lives.
“As part of the national 10-year Population Health Framework, we have committed a three-year financial contribution toward population health action through both the North and South Lanarkshire CPPs.
“This commitment is specifically focused on early years and child poverty with an investment of approximately £2 million for the three-year period for each CPP area. Over the national 10-year framework we will continue to review and deliver actions in partnership with public, community and private sector organisations and are clear that this work must have impact and effective action to improve the health of the people in Lanarkshire.”
