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Closer working between council and health workers will be vital to increasing life expectancy, a council has warned. Staffordshire CC has unveiled a plan to radically reduce health inequalities and extend the life of its residents, while making savings by preventing the future need for treatment. The council's cabinet has approved the county's health and wellbeing strategy, which will promote collaborative work between councils, primary care trusts and other stakeholders Cllr Matthew Ellis, cabinet member for adults and wellbeing, said: ‘The clarity, frankness and strength of this strategy is unique, and provides an opportunity to see genuine step change in improving the lives and future wellbeing of Staffordshire families. ‘In 2010, it can't be right that in Staffordshire, the average life expectancy in some communities can be 19 years less than in others, depending on where people live. We simply have to tackle that.' The strategy's work will begin by April 2011, and includes alcohol licensing officers working closely with the industry to ensure a more rigorous compliance with the law. The council puts the annual cost of alcohol-related harm in the county at £322m, and the number of young people in treatment for alcohol misuse increased by almost one-fifth (17%) in 2008/9. It will also see a continued commitment to increase access to local stop smoking services, making sporting opportunities more readily available, and the provision of debt management and money advice. Health and care workers will also work more closely together to help target families where children are most vulnerable, and a strategic innovation fund will be established to support grass roots projects to help improve health. Cllr Ellis added: ‘Everyone, every organisation and every business stands to benefit from this work. Not only does preventable ill-health blight lives, but it has a massive impact on the economy.'

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WHITEHALL

Joint strategy will target inequalities

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