Health protection plan for Cumbria set for approval by council
New strategies aim to improve health services in north and west Cumbria
A new health protection plan for residents in north and west Cumbria is poised to receive approval at an upcoming council meeting.
Members of the health and wellbeing board will gather at Allerdale House in Workington on 12th June to review and potentially approve Cumberland Council's latest health protection plan.
This plan marks the third installment for the council and ties into the Cumberland Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2023-2028, focusing on health protection, early intervention, and detection as key themes.
Under the new plan, priority areas include NHS vaccination and immunisation programmes for both children and adults, alongside various NHS screening programs such as breast, cervical, bowel, diabetic eye, abdominal aortic aneurysm, and antenatal and newborn screenings.
Additional priorities encompass communicable disease control, infection prevention and control, healthcare-acquired infections, emergency planning and response, and health screenings and NHS healthcare access for asylum seekers, refugees, and evacuees.
The Health and Social Care Act 2012 mandates local authorities to advance public health services and improve health for area residents.
Steps outlined to fulfill this duty include offering information, advice, services for illness prevention or treatment, offering financial incentives for healthier lifestyles, and making services and facilities available.
Moreover, the act compels local authorities to oversee or provide the National Child Measurement Programme, NHS health checks, universal health visiting checks, and open access sexual health services.