{"id":3075,"date":"2012-05-28T00:25:58","date_gmt":"2012-05-27T23:25:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bjsm\/?p=3075"},"modified":"2012-05-28T10:46:46","modified_gmt":"2012-05-28T09:46:46","slug":"calling-on-physical-activists-and-physical-activity-experts-please-help","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bjsm\/2012\/05\/28\/calling-on-physical-activists-and-physical-activity-experts-please-help\/","title":{"rendered":"Calling on physical activists and physical activity experts \u2013 PLEASE HELP!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Guest blog by:\u00a0Christine Neyndorff & Dr. Richard Weiler<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

<\/em><\/strong>\"\"<\/p>\n

The Hertfordshire County (United Kingdom) \u2018Health and Wellbeing Board\u2019 is a new partnership, which thinks it will deliver real improvements in people\u2019s health and wellbeing, without<\/strong> physical activity being a priority. The Board has representatives from the National Health Service, councils and the Hertfordshire Local Involvement Network (LINk) (LINk has been set up \u2018across England to help local people influence the way that their local healthcare and social services are planned and delivered\u2019). The priorities were chosen as areas where \u2018health service and local government can make a real difference by working together.\u2019<\/p>\n

A draft Health and Wellbeing Strategy has been launched for consultation (follow this link for more info<\/a>).<\/p>\n

[Please feel free to complete their online feedback form, but do email us at <\/em>f.deans@herts.ac.uk<\/em> <\/em>to let us know what you say and which organisation you represent so we can lobby as one.]<\/em><\/p>\n

Physical activity is currently NOT considered a priority! It as not even evaluated<\/span><\/em> to see whether it warranted being included in future strategy!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Physical activity should be a priority. The promotion of physical activity, with local healthcare and social services working together, will help reduce health inequalities for all ages and socioeconomic groups. \u00a0 We also believe that increasing physical activity in the overall population will positively affect all 8 of the currently identified \u2018health and wellbeing priority areas.\u2019<\/p>\n

The proposed\u00a08 priority areas are:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Tackling obesity<\/li>\n
  2. Reducing smoking<\/li>\n
  3. Managing long term conditions \u2013 to reduce the use of emergency care<\/li>\n
  4. Supporting family carers<\/li>\n
  5. Promoting good mental health \u2013 including helping people live well with dementia<\/li>\n
  6. Helping families facing multiple problems to thrive<\/li>\n
  7. Reduce harm caused by drugs and alcohol<\/li>\n
  8. Fulfilling lives for people with learning disabilities<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    We can influence the Health and Wellbeing Strategy by lobbying – sharing our collective concern. Together, we can improve the public health of residents in Hertfordshire County.<\/p>\n

    PLEASE<\/em> support our campaign to get physical activity top of the priority list by:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Emailing<\/strong> us at f.deans@herts.ac.uk explaining why physical activity should be included as a top priority. If you would like to provide any references to explain\u00a0why we would really like to hear from you.<\/li>\n
    2. \u00a0<\/strong>Emailing\u00a0<\/strong>us at f.deans@herts.ac.uk if you live in Hertfordshire or know anyone influential in Hertfordshire that can help.<\/li>\n
    3. Voting<\/strong> on the BJSM poll if you think tackling physical inactivity should be a top priority area for health and wellbeing in Hertfordshire.<\/li>\n
    4. Tweeting <\/strong>this BJSM blog to gain more support<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/a>\n
      <\/div>\n
      <\/div>\n