Place Plan

Health behaviours are closely related to the wider determinants of health. In Cheshire West we know there are higher rates of smoking, obesity, and harm from alcohol in lower socioeconomic groups and among those living in our more deprived areas. This close association between health behaviours and the wider determinants is the reason we must focus more broadly than health care alone in our efforts to improve health.

Although the Place Plan stresses the wider determinants and a good start in life, this does not mean that health behaviours are unimportant. Current lifestyles present a serious threat to population health, particularly for more disadvantaged groups as noted above. The Borough Plan places an emphasis on shifting resources across the NHS and Council towards preventative services to support people to take up and maintain a healthier lifestyle. This includes quitting smoking, drinking alcohol sensibly, increasing physical activity and having a healthy diet and weight.

We are working collaboratively with Cheshire and Merseyside partners to deliver the All Together Smokefree and All Together Active programmes to promote and support healthy behaviours. Similarly, partnership work programmes are being undertaken within the Joint Forward Plan to address alcohol-related harm and increase diagnosis and treatment of health conditions such as hypertension and high cholesterol in order to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Lifestyle and health behaviours can have a major impact on the likelihood of an individual developing diseases such as cardiovascular disease (CVD). CVD includes coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke and vascular dementia and is a leading cause of premature death in Cheshire West. Preventing CVD is therefore both a Cheshire and Merseyside and local priority.

We will:

• promote healthy behaviours in children, young people, and adults to prevent them developing harmful habits. This includes restricting promotion of food and drink products high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) through Council media in order to tackle obesity
• provide services (including debt management, NHS Health Checks, stop smoking, weight management, drug and alcohol) to help residents move towards healthier lifestyles and support health promotion campaigns such as Know Your Numbers’ week
• help all people keep themselves well and independent in their homes for longer and ensure optimal monitoring and management of people with known long-term conditions such as Atrial Fibrillation, hypertension or high cholesterol
• promote free or low-cost wellbeing opportunities in the borough, for example Brio Leisure, including the health services they provide, Mersey Forest, arts, leisure, and cultural events
• continue to work across the health and care system to improve mental health and wellbeing for all ages via the Cheshire West Place All Age Mental Health Strategy and the Cheshire and Merseyside Children and Young People’s Mental Health Plan 2024-2026[1]
• implement ‘Making Every Contact Count’ where every contact with a service (not just a health service or professional) is an opportunity for a conversation about ways to live a healthier life
• maintain and promote the Cheshire West Live Well website so that residents can:
  • find information, advice, and services easily
  • make informed choices
  • take personal responsibility for their health and wellbeing.

[1] NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Partnership (2024) Children and Young People’s Mental Health Plan 2024-2026. Available at: nhs-cheshire-and-merseyside-children-and-young-peoples-mental-health-plan-2024_2026.pdf