Get walking and develop a personal exercise programme – these are among the key recommendations from councillors to help residents improve their health and enjoyment of life. Members of the Newham Council Cabinet have agreed a number of recommendations for healthy living after a report from the council’s Scrutiny Commission on health inequalities.

The report was drawn up after reviewing problems of health inequality as highlighted by the review of health inequalities in England carried out by Professor Michael Marmot from University College London.

He concluded that health inequalities arise from social and economic factors particularly in areas of deprivation and could only be tackled by policy objectives that focus on help for children, provid- ing fair employment and decent working conditions, improving living standards and strengthening good work the role and impact of ill-health prevention.

As part of their report, the Scrutiny Commission gathered further evidence from the Marmot designated cities of Coventry and Greater Manchester and the Institute of Health Equity, which was set up after the Marmot review.

The Commission has recommended that council departments need to work in partnership with the government, the NHS, voluntary groups, charities, and hard to reach individuals.

The recommendations from the Scrutiny Commission report include promoting Local Walking Groups and develop an Online Healthy Living and Exercise Programme, that relates to lessening health inequalities, and that can be followed at one’s own convenience.

These recommendations and the objectives of the report aim to tackle the reality of lower life expectancy rates in poorer areas of London compared with richer areas of the capital.

For full details of the report and recommendations, contact jason.strelitz@newham.gov.uk

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