Health Questionaire

[steveL]

I'm not sure how well the words 'consultation' and 'health care' go together in Hartlepool given the hospital fiasco but here's the latest attempt at consultation. This time it's in preparation for the new Health and Well Being Board due to take the place of the local PCT. This survey seems to fall into the usual category of those that start with the answers and then work out the questions so it's not so much a case of what is included in the survey but what is not.

Even so, I suggest people take the time to have their input and make full use of what opportunities there are to jump out of the controlled question and answer part of the survey by filling in the 'other comments' bits.

Published by HBC Monday 20th August 12

PEOPLE in Hartlepool are being urged to take part in important consultation to help shape how health services will be provided in the town from next year.

The consultation is being carried out by the town's new Shadow Health and Wellbeing Board, which from next April will be responsible for ensuring that the health needs of local people are being met.

People are being asked to complete an online questionnaire to say what priority they feel should be given to a wide range of health issues and services and other factors which also have an impact on people's wellbeing.

These are listed under seven key strategic objectives:

* Giving every child the best start in life.
* Enabling all children and young people to maximise their capabilities and have control over their lives.
* Enabling all adults to maximise their capabilities and have control over their lives.
* Creating fair employment and good work for all.
* Ensuring a healthy standard of living for all.
* Creating and developing healthy and sustainable places and communities.
* Strengthening the role and impact of ill health prevention.

The topics range from childhood obesity, immunisations, antenatal care and pre-school childcare to healthy eating, smoking, levels of physical activity, mental health problems, drug and alcohol misuse, support for the over 65s and cancer awareness and screening.

Other subjects include road safety, public transport, education and training opportunities, decent standards of housing and access to quality green spaces.

The online consultation runs from Monday 20th August to Monday 17th September and the survey can be completed at www.surveymonkey.com/s/HWBstrategyHBC12

In a later strand of the consultation, there will also be opportunities for people to complete written questionnaires at various locations around the town - these will be publicised shortly.

The Shadow Health and Wellbeing Board will use the survey results to prepare a draft Health and Wellbeing Strategy which will then be published for public consultation in the autumn. Once finalised, the Strategy is expected to be adopted by April 2013.

Louise Wallace, Director of Public Health for NHS Hartlepool and Hartlepool Council, said: "The Health and Wellbeing Strategy will play a very important part in helping us identify the key priorities for public health investment in Hartlepool over the next few years.

"We need to make sure that the Strategy reflects the needs of local people so I would urge as many Hartlepool residents as possible to take part in the consultation and let us know their views."

For more information about the consultation, contact Richard Starrs at Hartlepool Council on 01429 523589.

Press release PRO37113. 20 August 2012.
Issued by Julian Heward, Public Relations Officer, on 01429 523044.

[monkeyhanger]

Just completed this questionaire,looking forward to the feedback.

[not4me]

I had a look at this and it's very much a case of answering a limited range of questions with all roads leading to Rome, as it were - or more accurately - all questions leading to the 'right' answers.
Perhaps the 'do you think Hartlepool should retain its own A&E Department?' or even 'do you think Hartlepool should retain its own Hospital?' will be in the, as yet unpublished, second part.