International Festival of Public Health

Healthy Cities – Working in partnership to address the Social Determinants by Embedding Health and Health Equity in All Local Policies

How the UK Healthy Cities Network facilitates municipalities to address the social determinants of health through integrating a commitment to health and health equity in all local policies.

In this workshop, Stephen Woods, the UK Healthy Cities Network Co-ordinator will discuss how the UK Healthy Cities Network facilitates municipalities to address the social determinants of health through integrating a commitment to health and health equity in all local policies

The UK Healthy Cities Network is part of a global movement for public health and sustainable development with over 25 years’ experience of incubating ideas and developing creative solutions to challenges. The movement has been led and supported by the World Health Organization, but the Network also draws on a rich history of trail-blazing values-based work within the UK and seeks to be at the leading edge in anticipating and responding to current and future demands facing cities and towns.

The changes heralded by the Health & Social Care Act 2012 provide an important context for the Network’s development. As local government takes on the responsibility for Public Health, the Network is uniquely placed to promote health and tackle inequalities through action on the wider determinants of health. Drawing on examples of good practice, Stephen will showcase how Healthy Cities values and priorities can drive innovative and creative responses.

The format will comprise a brief presentation followed by a structured discussion. There will be opportunities to debate how placing Health in All Local Policies can tackle the Social Determinants of Health.

Health Together, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, Leeds Metropolitan University

Session Lead - Stephen Woods

Stephen is the UK Healthy Cities Network Co-ordinator he joined Healthy Settings t Unit within the School of Health at the University of Central Lancashire in December 2010 as the North West Tobacco Control Co-ordinator Prisons and Criminal Justice Setting .

Previous to this Stephen was the Assistant Director for the Anglia Heart and Stroke network leading on the strategic development of stroke services. He has an extensive background in the field of public health having held the posts of Assistant Director and Delivery Programme Manager for the Cumbria and Lancashire Public health networks. Before joining the network Stephen was the Sexual health Network Lead for Cumbria and Lancashire.