Wandsworth Council has taken responsibility for the public's health within the borough following a massive shake-up of the NHS.

Last week we published details of how a new Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), made up of general practitioners across Wandsworth, has taken control of how patients are dealt with and treatment is administered.

As part of the changes, since April, Wandsworth Council is now responsible for educating on preventing disease and keeping the borough healthy.

Houda Al Sharifi, director of public health, has been based at Wandsworth Town Hall since 2011 preparing for the official launch.

She said: "We are in the town hall at the centre of democracy, not in an annexe, that is really important to me.

"It is challenging but exciting working with people to change their behaviour without being a nanny state, it's about what will work on people that will improve rather than being told off."

Public health initiatives include campaigns to reduce teenage pregnancy, hosting a mental health awareness day or preventing falls.

A recent project was working with people living in Roehampton to create a healthy winter recipe cookbook.

Similarly to Wandsworth CCG, Mrs Al Sharifi said the biggest challenge for public health is engaging with the public.

Mrs Al Sharifi said: "How do we work better for the population, how do we engage them in their health? It's the biggest challenge that we have.

"The main priority is trying to work with the communities."

The council has set up a health and well-being board, made up of councillors, Wandsworth CCG members and GPs to determine what to focus on.

It will also take on the role of scrutinising and monitoring services, working alongside Wandsworth CCG and community groups.

Mrs Al Sharifi said a lot of work has been spent preparing staff mentally, physically and culturally on how to operate in the council.

She said: "I think it is very challenging because we are intellectually more stretched. In the NHS there are lots of more directors around.

"It is a different organisation, we have made sure we will be driven by the committee."


PUBLIC HEALTH KEY PRIORTIES:

  • Differences in life expectancy in the borough. For example a boy born in Latchmere will have a shorter life expectancy than a boy born in Thamesfield. Mrs Al Sharifi said: "We know that poverty and social disadvantage has a detriment on health. The most deprived areas are Roehampton, Latchmere and bits of Tooting as well. There will be physical and social regeneration for Roehampton and Latchmere."
  • Childhood obesity
  • Teenage pregnancy
  • Alcohol-related admissions
  • HIV