Gateshead Health and Wellbeing Strategy (Draft update)

We aim to deliver the most positive outcomes for everyone, but we will focus our resources to benefit those in the most need - this will mean doing different things in different places. 

We know we need to do more to address inequalities so we will prioritise the use of our collective resources to those communities in Gateshead that need us most. This is very different to how we have previously allocated resources based on equality (everyone getting the same). 

This matters at a time of shifting policy direction which brings both opportunity and challenge. We need to ensure that approaches are more person-centred, accessible, and preventative. These approaches may look different due to local area needs and existing strengths. This will help us meet national, regional, and local strategic goals. 

Delivering on the identified aims require action across a much broader range of partners, strategies and structures. We recognise that there are already active workstreams which aim to address many of the actions required. This strategy will not replace existing work but instead acknowledge, connect, streamline and enhance current activity, within and between our partners and collaboratively with our communities. Whilst the Joint Health and Wellbeing Board has the statutory responsibility to oversee the strategy, we have identified the most appropriate multi-agency boards or partnerships to lead on the implementation of each of the eight strategic objectives. Each aim identifies the current ways in which actions are being delivered.  

We are implementing a Health and Wellbeing in All Policies (HiAP) approach, which recognises that the key building blocks of health and wellbeing—such as housing, education, transport, employment and access to services - are shaped by decisions made across the Council, NHS, and other public sector organisations. 

Health and Wellbeing in All Policies is about ensuring that across all systems, sectors, and services, the work we do, and the decisions we make systematically, consider their impact on health and wellbeing. As an internationally recognised framework, endorsed by the World Health Organisation, it helps us make the most of our collective resources and opportunities to improve population health and reduce health inequalities. 

Health and Wellbeing in All Policies is one of six cross-cutting themes, we have identified and agreed as essential for successful outcomes as we implement our Health and Wellbeing Strategy. 

Our six cross-cutting themes

Developing these themes will provide a firm foundation as we continue to implement our Health and Wellbeing Strategy. 

We recognise that many of the outcomes we aspire to deliver, across the Strategy are enormously ambitious. However, we feel passionately that all Gateshead residents deserve to live in conditions that facilitate good health and wellbeing.