A SUMMIT takes place this week with an eye on creating a ‘universal’ health plan for South Lakeland.

South Lakeland District Council’s overview and scrutiny committee is meeting in Kendal Town Hall on Wednesday September 17 at 2pm.

SLDC said key local health organisations will put the spotlight on some of the major health issues affecting people.

It will involve participation from organisations which pay for health services (commissioners), service providers and representatives of service users and local communities.

MORE TOP STORIES:

The council said ‘major challenges’ exist such as making best use of finances to maintain the quality of healthcare in South Lakeland against rising demand for services.

The aims of the meeting are to highlight issues, look at work being pursued, joint initiatives, and in particular, agree actions that will form the ‘Future of Health in South Lakeland’.

The key themes for the meeting are:

• Preventing poor health, improving health, promoting healthier lifestyles

• Rural issues / joint working

• One ‘Universal Health Plan’ for South Lakeland

SLDC said the various partners currently work together in pursuing shared objectives for the health and wellbeing of local communities.

However, there is an assortment of complex strategies and plans and the potential for one ‘Universal Health Plan’ for South Lakeland will be considered that will benefit residents in the district, said the council.

Coun David Ryder, chairman of the overview and scrutiny committee, explained: “Forty five per cent of local people stated that health was their biggest concern in the recent Quality of Life survey undertaken by the council. Health issues affect everyone directly or indirectly. The local health sector faces massive future challenges and is responsible for significant budgets and plans. Members identified this as a priority.

“There is good work currently going on but there may be opportunities for an even more strategic joined-up action plan. Sustainable accessible rural services are a particular issue.’’

Coun Graham Vincent, SLDC’s portfolio holder for health and wellbeing, added: “This meeting provides added value in highlighting challenges and the potential for one universal plan covering the wider health picture.’’

Kendal-based Dr Alistair Mackenzie, the GP lead for NHS Cumbria clinical commissioning group (CCG) for South Lakes, said he welcomed this opportunity, along with other health sector colleagues, to highlight challenges, existing work and opportunities in this open forum and said it is important to develop shared plans into agreed actions for better health outcomes.”