The proposed new health and wellbeing strategy for Southampton is set to focus on four “key” themes where leaders believe they can make an impact.

Members of the city council’s health and wellbeing board discussed a draft version of the strategy ahead of a public consultation.

Board chair and cabinet member for adults and health Cllr Marie Finn said it was important to focus efforts on a small number of critical issues.

Cllr Finn said: “It has been really difficult because what we have found is there hasn’t been enough difference made  on health inequalities in the city.

“We made a commitment to look at what’s really important and really target four key areas and put a lot of effort into focusing on those areas where we think we can make an impact.”

The draft health and wellbeing strategy four priority themes and specific areas of focus are as follows

  • Starting Well: A whole system approach to childhood obesity.
  • Staying well: Maintaining independence through integrated, proactive and personalised care and support.
  • Connecting Well: Supporting communities to be physically and creatively active.
  • Financially well: Maximising opportunities for skills, training and employment.

Presenting the draft strategy to the board on Wednesday, July 9, public health consultant Dr Robin Poole said: “If all goes well and we can realise these ambitions, then the vision of the strategy that Southampton is a place where everyone can live healthy, active  and independent lives, create positive social connections and maximise financial wellbeing will hopefully be realised.”

Members of the board raised several items in relation to the draft strategy.

Suki Sitaram, chair of Healthwatch Southampton, said while the statistics and indicators told a more evidenced-based story, there needed to be more clarity around what the drivers were.

Referencing childhood obesity, she said the document could add the likes of nutrition, diet and exercise.

“To make it more relatable to a wider population the drivers need to be standing out a lot more when you go out for consultation,” Ms Sitaram said.

“It’s important to link the drivers to the actions and the indicators in a way which people can immediately see.”

Southampton Voluntary Services chief executive Rob Kurn said he would like to see more on the food environment.

“We are aware there are parts of the city where the options that are on people’s doorsteps are all high calorific low-cost low nutrition type foods that are very convenient,” Mr Kurn said.

Cllr Finn said this subject was “very much on the agenda” in discussions on the emerging local plan.

The board agreed to delegate to the public health consultant to make a minor changes to the document and the creation of an easy read version ahead of the public consultation.