Two public health teams now serving Northamptonshire
The Northamptonshire Public Health Team has been supporting people across both West and North Northants since the creation of the two new councils on 1 April 2021.
Following a full review and analysis of the service, from 1 October 2022 there are now two Public Health Services, one located in West Northants, supporting people who live in the West, and one in North Northants, supporting North residents. Each will be led by a Director of Public Health, John Ashton in the North, and Sally Burns in the West.
Public Health teams consist of many services which can be broadly grouped into 'Management, Commissioning and Admin', and 'Wellbeing', as follows:
- Management, Commissioning and Admin work to support the health of the local population by preventing diseases, prolonging and improving the quality of life through:
- Health Improvement – developing strategies, commissioning services and influencing wider stakeholders to improve health outcomes and reduce inequalities. These include healthy ageing, weight management, physical activity, workplace health, children and young people, healthy schools, substance misuse (drugs and alcohol), sexual health, mental health and suicide prevention, and also oral health.
- Health Protection – protecting individuals, groups, and populations from the impact of infectious diseases, environmental, radiological, and chemical threats. Over the last two years, most of this work has focused on leading the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Healthcare Public Health – providing specialist support to the NHS to develop and improve evidence-based healthcare. Achieved through the careful assessment and planning of health need, prevention, quality, efficiency, value, and equity in healthcare pathways.
- Wellbeing provides support services directly to customers, including:
- Stop Smoking Service, providing behavioural support remotely to local smokers who would like help to stop smoking.
- Supporting Independence Programme, a frailty prevention service providing a package of support to people living in Northamptonshire.
- Falls Management Service, providing advice and support, and an individual falls risk assessment in the clients’ own home, working with the client to identify their potential falls risk factors and create an individual action plan.
The new teams are looking forward to continuing to deliver the same high level of service. If you need to speak to them you can find updated contact details on the North Northants website or the West Northants website