The mayor of London has launched a ‘better health’ strategy that will see the local government back plans for improved social prescribing.
The new scheme, ‘Better Health for all Londoners’, aims to tackle the city’s health inequalities, which an analysis released alongside the programme found to be the worst in England.
According to the analysis women in Tower Hamlets should expect to live for 30 years in ill health, compared to less than 12 years for men in Enfield.
The mayor of London has launched a ‘better health’ strategy that will see the local government back plans for improved social prescribing.
The new scheme, ‘Better Health for all Londoners’, aims to tackle the city’s health inequalities, which an analysis released alongside the programme found to be the worst in England.
According to the analysis women in Tower Hamlets should expect to live for 30 years in ill health, compared to less than 12 years for men in Enfield.
The strategy will focus on five areas including raising health children, improving mental health, air quality and community life, and reducing child obesity.
According to the strategy report, Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, ‘will champion social prescribing programmes in London’.
It says: ‘He will champion the work of NHS GPs and other frontline healthcare professionals to help people of all ages find social, emotional or practical solutions to improve their health and wellbeing.’
‘The Mayor’s key ambition is to support the most disadvantaged Londoners to benefit from social prescribing to improve their health and wellbeing.’
The report adds that social prescribing can be used to help people access groups ‘that make their community a healthy place’, while also giving children ‘a healthy start in life’.
The strategy, which is currently under consultation until the end of November, aims to reduce the health inequalities in London.
Mr Khan, said: ‘Leading a healthy life should not be determined by where you live – it is unacceptable that a person’s wealth, background and postcode has such a major impact on their overall health.’
He added: ‘From improving air quality and reducing childhood obesity to promoting good mental health and decreasing social isolation, all of us have a part to play in improving the health of Londoners.’
If you want to find out more about social prescribing, you can register for our Healthcare Leader Forums here. Social prescribing is being covered on all the prevention and wellbeing events in Reading, Manchester and Birmingham, where delegates can hear from Christopher Dayson, senior research fellow at Sheffield Hallam University.
