Community health
Health too is an integral part of the concept of sustainable development. It was at the heart of the original Rio Declaration but, unlike climate change and energy, it has tended to become separated in the minds of those who are devising and implementing strategies to achieve both (CIEH, 2003). There are signs that the gap is closing, reflected in the chapter on well-being in Choosing Our Future.
Guidance from Ministers is clear that the 3 core elements of the 2003 Act - the power to advance well-being, community planning and Best Value should be seen as inter-related, and all are required to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development. Guidance on well-being is explicit that alongside economic, social and environmental matters it may include ...health related factors such as the promotion of good physical, social and mental health and developing and promoting policies which have a positive impact on health outcomes, especially on health inequalities. Well being, leading to self confidence and higher self esteem, should be part of achieving sustainable development, along with the economic, social and environmental facets. Human health implications are also amongst the matters required to be considered in Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). This has a direct bearing on all local authority plans and strategies within the scope of the SEA requirements, which include all public sector strategies plans and programmes, as well as development plans and local transport strategies.
However, the approach is far from being just top down. Councils are responsible for the delivery of a wide range of services which impact directly on public health and well-being - from social care, housing, education and community safety to environmental health, transport, and leisure and recreation. Health authorities have been amongst the most active community planning partners, and there has been recognition of the mutual responsibility with local authorities for the well-being of people in their area (as noted in paragraphs 42 and 43). The relationship grows from the role of councils in supporting health - for example the provision of accessible leisure, recreation and sports facilities, and through diet and nutrition - and reducing sources of harm such as pollutants. Conversely health authorities contribute to sustainable development (as well as health care) through the location and accessibility of facilities, and their procurement and estate management policies. From starting points of this kind, the process of mutual support is growing.
There is also a role for practical steps such as linking hospital chest clinics to social services to stop the 'cycle' of patients; or alerting social services when a patient is in hospital so that homes can be improved before or when they return home.
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| Paths to Improvement include: | Policy | Being Implemented | Outcomes |
| Is there partnership working with community plan partners to address health inequalities? | |||
| Is there partnership working with health authorities to improve the co-ordination of social care activities, with localised and integrated services, closer to the user in their communities and in their homes where appropriate? | |||
| Is there development of joint premises containing integrated health and social care services in accessible one stop shops? | |||
| Do the provision and location of health care facilities take into account transport, including public transport availability, and their potential role in or adjacent to town centres supporting renewal as well as a walk-in catchment? | |||
| Are sources of pollution (indoor and outdoor air quality, water quality, contaminated land etc) that damage or jeopardise human health being identified, including through SEA and planning processes, and then tackled? | |||
| See also child transport (under education) | |||
| See also fuel poverty (under climate change & energy) | |||
| See also provision of accessible leisure and recreation facilities, including paths and greenspaces (under leisure, sport, recreation and culture) | |||
| See also diet and nutrition (under both education and social services) |