Looking after yourself means living a healthy lifestyle and looking after your health. This section of the website gives information about how you can achieve good health, including physical activity, eating well and general self care practices. You can also find out about immunisations such as flu and child, screening and emotional health and wellbeing.
What does being healthy mean?
'Health' means different things to different people. For many people being healthy means not being ill. We often take our health for granted until we are ill or problems with our health occur.
But what affects health?
For many years it has been recognised that 'being healthy' is seldom, if ever, the result of chance or luck. A variety of factors can have either a positive or a negative effect on a person's health at any one time. These are likely to include family history, friends, income, housing conditions access to services and education. These can affect the lifestyle habits we choose. Therefore, action is required not just at the individual level but also in communities and through the work and living environment. This all helps people make the easier choice the healthier choice.
So it is everyone's responsibility
We recognise the challenge ahead and the vital role our colleagues in local government, the various voluntary organisations, other health and social care organisations and local communities have in improving health. We look forward to working with you all in making real, lasting improvements to public health and wellbeing.
What is Public Health?
Public Health can be described as a discipline that addresses the health of the population rather than on the medical care that focuses on individual treatment. This involves monitoring the health status of the population, identifying health needs, controlling communicable diseases, screening for early disease, developing policies for and evaluating healthcare provision.