People across Bath and North East Somerset are being asked to help shape the way health and wellbeing is supported in the area over the next 10 years.
B&NES Council is working with its partners to develop a new Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy for the district, to make sure residents are able to live healthily and well for as long as possible.
A public consultation, running until 31st October, seeks to find out what actions people think should be taken by the council, NHS, third-sector organisations and voluntary groups to improve local health services.
The survey also asks people to share their experiences of NHS health services and social care services in the last 12 months.
The local authority is keen to hear from health professionals, volunteers and third-sector employees as well as from residents.
Responses to the online survey will inform the new strategy, which will be agreed in January 2023.
Councillor Dine Romero, cabinet member for Children and Young People, and Communities, said: “The new Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy will be an important tool in making sure people in our area stay healthy and well.
“We know that lots of different things contribute to this, including where you live, your job, the cost of living and how easily you can access health services. We have plenty of data but it doesn’t give us the full picture.
“Through the public consultation we hope to find out what your health and wellbeing priorities are, so that with our partners we can provide the right services in the future.
The council is also developing a new Local Plan to be adopted in 2025. The Local Plan is the council’s primary tool for creating public places that are good for people’s health, happiness and wellbeing and is closely linked to the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy.
Both the plan and the strategy share common outcomes for people and places, such as homes, transport, jobs and tackling climate change. A separate public consultation on the Local Plan began on 4th October and can be found here.
For information about accessing the health and wellbeing survey in alternative formats or to ask questions, contact the Health and Wellbeing Strategy Team by emailing [email protected].
The consultation closes on 31st October at 5pm.