Government Offices | West Midlands |

The Department of Health (West Midlands) is co-located within the Government Office for the West Midlands. As the Department of Health's public health representatives in the West Midlands, we are responsible for ensuring that public health policy is implemented, monitored, sustained, that innovations and networks are developed, specialist advice given and recommendations and learning carried out.

Public health works across communities and populations rather than at the level of the individual. It emphasises collective responsibility for health, its protection and disease prevention. Key to this is the recognition of the key role of the state, linked to a concern for the underlying socio-economic and wider determinants of health, as well as disease. Partnership working with all those who contribute to the health of the population is a main aim of public health action at all levels – nationally, regionally and locally. More information on the national picture

In practice this means:

Working with regional and local government and local National Health Service bodies to ensure that all of the contributory factors to both ill health and better health are recognised and addressed in policies and activities. For example we are working to improve the region's health by tackling obesity and increasing the levels of activity. The West Midlands has a significant obesity problem, with the highest proportion of females aged 16-24 years, who are either overweight or obese (37.9%). The main factors associated with these rising levels of obesity, particularly among children, are poor diet and an inactive lifestyle.
Developing the wider public health group including working in close partnership with West Midlands Public Health Observatory (WMPHO).
Ensuring that the public have confidence in what the NHS does. This includes working with partner organisations such as the Health Protection Agency at all levels as well as local NHS bodies including NHS West Midlands, NHS Trusts and Primary Care Trusts to ensure that areas where there is a risk of loss of public confidence are effectively managed.
Supporting the NHS by providing professional leadership development, advice and intervention where appropriate.

For more information please contact the Department of Health (West Midlands).

West Midlands Big Drink Debate - launched Wednesday 15 October 2008

The West Midlands Regional Alcohol Group which is a multi-agency partnership between the NHS, Police, Probation, Voluntary and Community Sector, Trading Standards and some of the Government Departments in the region has launched a six-week campaign to raise awareness of the issues around alcohol-related harm and to ask the public what they think should be done to reduce the negative impact of excessive consumption of alcohol. The provocative ‘rallying cry’ across the campaign is ‘Is the West Midlands drinking itself to death?’

The launch took place at 10.00 a.m. in High Street, central Birmingham and was led by Dr Rashmi Shukla, Regional Director of Public Health and Sir Paul Scott-Lee, Chief Constable of West Midlands Police to the West Midland’s public and the regional and local media.

It is hoped that the results of the Big Drink Debate will:

• Inform and influence a West Midlands wide multi-agency alcohol strategy

• Raise awareness of alcohol and the harms caused by excessive consumption.

• Longer term, reduce the number of alcohol related hospital admissions.

These aims will be achieved through a combination of advertising and public relations. Printed materials, radio and web based advertisements are being developed, and the campaign will be supported by a branded website.

The series of local launches to take place is:

• Thursday 16 October at the Merry Hill Centre, Dudley

• Wednesday 22October, Stoke on Trent, Venue TBC

• Monday 27 October at Telford Shopping Centre

• Tuesday 28 October at the Old Square, Walsall

• Tuesday 4 November at the West Orchard Link Shopping Centre, Coventry

• Plus an event in Hereford TBA

Please spread the word via your newsletters, websites, email signatures etc. as appropriate to your organisation.

If anyone needs any further information, jpegs of the creative artwork or flyers etc. then please contact the Department of Health (West Midlands).

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