A NEW five year plan to help people to live healthier lives has been published by Hampshire County Council.

The council’s executive member for health Cllr Patricia Stallard said: “Across the county the quality of people’s health does differ.

“These happen because of where people are born, grow up, live, work, and age, but some of these differences in health, wellbeing and length of life are avoidable.

“We know that to reduce these health inequalities we need to focus on all of the factors that influence good health, but what makes some people healthy and others unhealthy, is complex.

“The authority is well placed to address these factors through collaboration, supporting individuals and communities to tackle the causes, and consequences, of poor health, enabling people to make healthy choices.”

With 1.3 million residents, Hampshire’s population is becoming more diverse, getting older, and living longer -- with greater inequalities.

More people experience lifestyle related illness caused by one or more of the following: obesity, smoking, lack of physical activity and drinking too much.

To help tackle some of these issues the council will be focusing on key areas.

Supporting people to stop smoking, achieve a healthy weight, be active (mentally and physically), drink sensibly, have good sexual health and reduce the risk of falling, by making a healthy lifestyle the norm.

Substance misuse and improving access to support for mental wellbeing for adults and children across the county, and loneliness and isolation, will all be tackled.

Those affected by domestic violence, will also be offered more support.

Working with partners such as the Health Visiting Service, parenting skills will be improved, and healthy schools created.

Work will be done to make local places healthy and safe, by offering better access to healthy food, and creating liveable streets where there are more opportunities for walking, cycling and social interaction.

Medically, key screening and immunisation programmes will be promoted, and road safety and accident prevention work will be supported.