Health Improvement Programme for
Doncaster 2000 - 2003

To enable the meaningful involvement of the public on issues of health and social well-being, in order to develop more effective and sustainable approaches to the reduction of health inequality and improved quality of life.

Target

There are no specific quantitative targets that can be set for this theme.

General Commentary

Involving all local stakeholders, patients, users, carers and Doncaster citizens in planning can improve the quality and responsiveness of services and reduce health inequalities.

In order to ensure Health Improvement in Doncaster is designed and delivered with local support mechanisms will be developed which will ensure patients and carers have greater influence over their own care; the public can contribute to the design, planning and monitoring of local services and all stakeholders can influence the reduction of health inequalities.

The White Paper, The New NHS Modern and Dependable and the Green Paper, 'Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation', emphasise the importance of involving the public in decisions about local health services. Partner organisations in the Health Improvement process are also engaged in the task of involving communities, user, carers and voluntary organisations in their plans. As the concept of involvement is integral to all initiatives and funding regimes the success of public services reducing health inequalities and improving the quality of life for people in Doncaster will require mechanisms that are inclusive, accessible, open and accountable and avoid duplication.

The Developing Communities Theme Group draws together representatives from all partner agencies involved in the variety of initiatives to allow for synergy rather than duplication. This group will aim to develop a comprehensive strategy for involvement which will empower local people to have greater influence over their own health and well-being but also to identify local issues for inclusion in the planning systems and support the local voluntary and community infra-structure.

The Local Authority is leading on the development of local area community fora which will include health issues in their widest sense. The Developing Communities Theme group will support the development of these fora as one method of ensuring local democracy, however the strategy will aim to use a variety of methods for involvement to allow for the inclusion of individuals and communities who have greater difficulty in accessing a forum.

The Theme Group works from the basic principle that as statutory agencies it is the responsibility of the Health Authority, the Local Authority, the Primary Care Groups and the Trusts to ellicit and incorporate the views of Doncaster citizens in planning services and that systems need to be clear and accessible for this to become a reality. A major step towards this reality is the appointment of six Linkworkers who will work to ensure every Doncaster citizen is a step closer to the decision-making bodies.

In line with the HImP generally, priority will be given to the most deprived communities in Doncaster in order to reduce health inequalities and empower the most marginalised communities.

Further information can be obtained by downloading the full text version of the Health Improvement Programme for Doncaster 2000 - 2003.

Any comments on this section should be submitted to the theme lead: David Webster, Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council, The Council House, College Road, Doncaster. DN1 2AD Email: david.webster@Doncaster.gov.uk