Our Community Health Team aims to improve the health of local people Gateshead. Recent successes include:
-
Gateshead Health Walks;
-
a range of opportunities for people to be more physically active;
-
a growing network of community gardens;
-
help for people who want to lose weight or improve their diet and health at work initiatives.
These all help to give people the motivation, knowledge and skills that enable them to make positive changes to their lifestyles and health.
Who do the team work with?
Work is focussed in the 31 priority neighbourhoods where local people experience the worst health inequalities. There are also a number of groups whose health needs are greater than others including:
-
older people;
-
people with disabilities;
-
people from black minority ethnic and faith groups;
-
people with health problems such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
Healthy Lifestyle Interventions
The team aim to tackle and prevent major diseases and conditions by delivering a range of healthy lifestyle interventions. These are:
-
Cookery demonstrations, including preparing healthy meals and snacks;
-
Information and advice to a variety of community groups, lunch clubs and day centres;
-
Supporting the establishment of community cafes and food cooperatives.
-
Support to use the Council's gym facilities;
-
Health Walks;
-
Cycling;
-
Tai Chi and yoga;
-
Fitness assessment and advice.
-
Carbon Dioxide testing;
-
Information and brief advice;
-
Referrals to the NHS smoking cessation service to intermediate or specialist advisers.
-
Weight management classes;
-
Health walks (including training work place leaders);
-
Anxiety management;
-
Fitness testing;
-
and a range of information and advice on health issues.
Other activities
-
Supporting most major health promotion campaigns, such as No Smoking day;
-
Supporting Community Festivals across Gateshead Council.
The Community Health Team is funded by:
They work jointly and in partnership with other Council functions, the NHS and Voluntary sector to provide services to local people in Gateshead.