Health Improvement Programme for
Doncaster 2000 - 2003

• Adopted targets from Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation and other national priorities such as smoking, cervical screening, etc.
  
• Set out a range of locally determined priorities and targets. Including targets relating to the wider determinants of health (e.g. educational attainment) as well as disease-based outcome targets. For each theme area a range of local short-term and intermediate (process) targets and measures of local progress are also specified. These contribute to the achievement of the national and key local targets.

b) Indicators. National indicator sets (e.g. High Level Performance Indicators, Clinical Indicators and Social Service Indicators) have been used to help identify local priorities. Specific agreed programmes of action, based on evidence of what is known to work to address these national and local priorities, have been agreed with Doncaster Royal Infirmary and PCGs.

c) Performance Agreement. National and local health targets are reflected in Performance Agreements. PCG progress towards national and local targets is being monitored closely and is included in the normal performance review processes and forms part of the performance review monitoring report.

d) Inequalities. A specific local target has been set aimed at reducing inequalities (improving <75 age standardised mortality in the most deprived 20% of enumeration districts in Doncaster at a faster rate than the rest of the population).

Analysis of routinely available data will be undertaken by the Public Health GIS Support Unit at ScHARR to support the measurement and monitoring of health inequalities on a common basis across the South Yorkshire Coalfield Health Action Zone (SYCHAZ). This will take forward the analysis undertaken within the SYCHAZ on measuring differences in mortality and access to services between the most and least deprived areas. This information combined with data from the Trent Public Health Observatory on trends in health and health inequalities will be priorities for specific agreed programmes to address inequalities.

In addition to the specific local target, progress in reducing inequalities will be measured against local short-term and intermediate (process) targets and measures of local progress are specified. Qualitative research with communities is good at generating local concerns about health and the wider determinants of ill health. These can be developed into quantifiable local targets for the statutory agencies.

e) Lifestyle. Baseline population lifestyle health information such as smoking prevalence and health status across the district and for each PCG will be used to inform the development of a lifestyle action plan for each PCG. This will be targeted at reducing harmful effects of risk taking behaviour.

f) Annual Report of the Director of Public Health. The independent Director of Public Health annual report will focus on a critical review of progress on the range on national and local targets.

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: John Radford, Director of Public Health, Doncaster Health Authority, White Rose House, Ten Pound Walk, Doncaster, DN4 5DJ. Email: john.radford@doncaster-ha.trent.nhs.uk