5.7 Health
5.7.1 We are extremely conscious of the relationship between transport and health, and our LTP2 strategy was subject to a Health Impact Assessment.
5.7.2 By working to increase levels of walking, cycling and public transport (which generally involves a walk to or from the stop or station), we are contributing to an increase in physical activity. This will help to tackle obesity and cardio-vascular disease in particular, which have been identified as two of the top six health priorities by the Greater Manchester Directors of Public Health. Techniques used to achieve this include Smarter Choices and travel planning at schools and workplaces (see 6.2.4 ‘Travel Behaviour’), marketing / information provision to the wider public, and the creation of new infrastructure (see 7 ‘Delivering Accessibility’).
5.7.3 Our work to improve air quality, both through reducing car use and through reducing emissions from vehicles also has a positive impact on health, in particular to help people with respiratory problems, see 9 ‘Air Quality & the Environment’
5.7.4 Contact between local authority transport officers and health practitioners has been improved through, for example, the GM Health & Transport Group (see Case Study 2 below), and partnership working at local level by groups focused on obesity or Walking for Health. The reorganisation of PCTs to coincide with local authority boundaries has also helped, as has the establishment by the NHS of a single point of contact with the GM Directors of Public Health. This has facilitated joint work on a number of projects, notably the promotion of active travel modes.
Case Study 2
Greater Manchester Health and Transport Group
Introduction
The Greater Manchester Health & Transport Group was established in 2004 to raise awareness of the links between the two sectors and provide a point of contact. It is made up of transport policy officers and travel planners from the 10 authorities and GMPTE, and health workers from the Greater Manchester Primary Care Trusts.
Approach
The Group meets on a quarterly basis to discuss current projects and issues, to share experiences, network, give practical support and advice on a range of related issues, debate current policies affecting transport access to health, and public health matters.
Group contact is maintained in two forms: the Health & Transport Group On-line Newsletter, which is circulated quarterly to over 270 individuals and organisations, and the website www.healthandtransportgroup.co.uk. The newsletter has maintained a high rate of contributions from the group members keeping it both current and topical. It consists of the following sections:
- News, covering recent transport related stories
- Transport and Health, covering reports, information, funding opportunities, studies on health related transport and examples of best practice projects
- Research, providing an archive of all research papers that are published in the newsletter
- Events and contacts list.
Funding Sources
GMPTE provide support to the Group in terms of administration (via their Health Co-ordinator) and production of the newsletter.
Targets and Objectives Met
The Group makes an indirect contribution to LTP accessibility targets by influencing decisions that affect access to healthcare and for excluded groups. It also helps the health sector to meet their targets for reducing obesity and increasing physical activity, implement active travel, improve access to health services for socially excluded groups and to be a ‘Good Corporate Citizen’ in local neighbourhoods. The Group is formally recognised as a consultee by NWDA, which will help to raise relevant issues at the regional level. One clear outcome of the partnership with health providers was close and early involvement in the discussions on the reconfiguration of health provision in the north east of Greater Manchester.