health - first magazine for councillors

Declining childhood outcomes

Findings from new reports indicate that child health and the education disadvantage gap are worsening.

sunset over the Newcastle riverfront and bridges

Local research on improving residents’ health

by Councillor Adam Walker and Professor Brian Ferguson MBE

The National Institute for Health and Care Research has made a significant investment in local government research capacity recently, through the establishment of 30 Health Determinants Research Collaborations (HDRCs) across the UK – each receiving £5m over five years.

Closing the gap in child dental health

by The Editorial Team

More than two million free toothbrushes and toothpastes have been given to children in disadvantaged communities as part of local councils’ delivery of the national supervised toothbrushing programme.

Prescribing healthy food

by Corin Bell

At Alexandra Rose, we believe access to healthy food is one of the most powerful tools for tackling health inequalities.

photo of nurse giving an older woman an injection in her own bedroom

Neighbourhood health at centre of NHS plan

by The Editorial Team

The crucial role of councils in delivering the NHS 10 Year Health Plan for England must be recognised, the LGA has said.

graphic of hands in red sleeves holding up a yellow arrow meandering upwards against backdrop of blue bar graph

‘Boost OT numbers to meet health goals’

by The Editorial Team

Increasing the number of occupational therapists working in councils would help meet government health goals, a new report by the LGA says.

Older overweight man sitting on side of bed at home, with a face mask strapped over his face connected to a breathing machine.

LGA calls for national strategy on health inequalities

by The Editorial Team

The Government is being urged to introduce a national health inequalities strategy to tackle England’s widening health gap, in a new report from the LGA.

Female health visitor in blue uniform talking to client across kitchen table – pictured from behind the client.

Soaring demand for health visitors – survey

by The Editorial Team

A survey by the Institute of Health Visiting has found an increase in complex needs among families, alongside a severe shortage of health visitors and significant disparities in service provision.

Health prevention ‘is not a luxury’ – LGA

by The Editorial Team

Better targeting of existing money spent on health prevention could deliver an extra £11 billion annual return on investment, according to the NHS Confederation.

photo of older male doctor with younger male patient looking at test results

LGA calls for men’s health strategy

by The Editorial Team

Men in England are facing “a silent health crisis”, dying nearly four years earlier than women, while suffering disproportionately higher rates of cancers, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.