Embed health and health equality in all local policies – McGimpsey

The Health Minister Michael McGimpsey has outlined the importance of how health and health equality should be forefront in all local policies.

The Minister was speaking at the launch of the ‘Health and Health Equity in all Local Policies: Series of Events’ at Belfast Castle. This event is the first in a series of eight, organised jointly by Belfast Healthy Cities and the Public Health Agency, planned to help policy makers embed health as a core element in all local policies, and increase understanding of the social determinants of health and health equality in policy.

Mr McGimpsey said: “I want to emphasise that it is about championing public health at all levels – ensuring policy makers, not just in my Department but across the whole of government, take account of the possible impacts on health and health inequalities. This is all about co-ordinated and collaborative working at all levels.

“Health is undoubtedly a measure of our personal quality of life, but it is also a key measure of a healthy community, city or society. That is why it is absolutely critical that we continue to focus on addressing the wider social determinants of health inequality. This work should not happen on the fringes of policy making, it should be intrinsic to everything we do. That is why this action requires reinforcement from not just across Government, but all public agencies and the voluntary and community sectors across Northern Ireland as well.”

Mr McGimpsey also emphasised the importance of partnership working in light of the future reform of local government.

The Minister said: “The timing of these events is advantageous since it will provide an opportunity to strengthen partnership arrangements, and levels of engagement, between the Public Health Agency, Belfast Healthy Cities and Belfast City Council, particularly so in the first year of the establishment of the Agency. Continued collaborative working will also be vital given the importance of the imminent reform of local government.”

The Minister concluded: “The ‘Health and Health Equity in all Local Policies’ programme is timely, given that the review of the Northern Ireland Investing for Health Strategy is currently underway, and the series of events may help inform ongoing strategic direction, together with the recent publication of ‘Fair Society, Healthy Lives – A Strategic Review of Health Inequalities in England post 2010’ by Sir Michael Marmot.”

The event, hosted by Belfast Healthy Cities in association with the Public Health Agency, Belfast City Council, Belfast HSC Trust and Northern Ireland Housing Executive, brought together statutory organisations together with voluntary and community sectors.

Notes to editors:

1. This event is the first in a series of eight under the banner of ‘Health and Health Equity in all Local Policies” arranged jointly by Belfast Healthy Cities and the Public Health Agency. They are due to roll out between February and November 2010.

2. The programme objectives are to help policy makers embed health as a core element in all local policies and increase understanding of the social determinants of health and health equality in policy.

3. Belfast Healthy Cities is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of people living and working in Belfast through an intersectoral approach. They work with decision makers to develop approaches to create a healthy city which prioritises health, and is committed to improving conditions for all its citizens.

4. Media queries to for DHSSPS should be directed to the DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 2841, or out of office hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715440 and your call will be returned.