Supporting Communities

The NHS can support local communities at a variety of levels, as a service provider, a land owner and employer and as a partner in local government and delivery.

The following are just a few ways in which the NHS can have a positive influence locally:

• Promoting health and well being: Through access to green spaces and support and development of the local area to enhance physical activity.
• Setting the example: The NHS can be more than just a health service provider, it has the opportunity to be an exemplar organisation 
• Ensuring access to local services: The NHS should ensure all members of the community are able to access services without physical, cultural or intellectual barriers. This is particularly relevant in areas of deprivation or where current barriers to access exist. 
• Use of sites and buildings: The existing and future NHS estate should be used as a community asset, with open and green spaces available for public use and community services available on site.
• Promoting participation: Participation may also contribute positively to health at a more collective level by building social capital in a community. Socially isolated individuals living in less cohesive communities are more likely to experience poor health than those living in more cohesive communities.
• Supporting the local economy: Job opportunities and career development in the local NHS can bring many economic and social benefits to a community. The power of NHS purchasing and procurement can also positively influence local economy. 
• Education: The NHS has a role to play by providing information and support to staff, patients and visitors in order to help create healthier homes and workplaces.
• Links with local government to reduce health inequalities: The Government is encouraging and supporting local authorities to improve the health of their communities and to tackle health inequalities. Local authorities working in effective partnership with the NHS, other public sector bodies and the private, voluntary and community sectors is seen as crucial to tackling the health problems in their areas.
• Links with local goverment to develop local plans: the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) framework in which local authorities and partners now operate includes a strengthened range of responsibilities and powers in relation to the achievement of sustainable development. LSPs bring together the public, voluntary, community and private sectors, including the NHS, to coordinate action across organisational boundaries in a local area on priority needs and aspirations such as combating climate change. Priorities for action are described in the Sustainable Community Strategy for the local area - there is now a statutory duty for Local Area Agreements to ‘have regard to’ the relevant Sustainable Community Strategy which should contribute to sustainable development.