Introduction: Is Stoke-on-Trent a Healthy City?

Although much healthier than it was 50 years ago, the City of Stoke-on-Trent could be healthier. Health is about feeling good in mind and body. It is also about the quality of our lives.

Many things affect our health such as...

• the area we live in
• the type of housing we occupy
• whether we have a job, and if so the kind of work we do
• the sort of education we have and
• the quality of health services available to us

Other things also affect our health such as...

• what we eat and drink
• how much physical activity we take
• how much sleep we get
• whether we smoke or use drugs

There are considerable variations in health within in the City with some communities enjoying better health than others. Stoke-on-Trent Healthy City recognises that no single agency can tackle all the issues which affect our health.

Therefore it hopes to achieve its aims by...

• encouraging co-operation and joint working between organisations who have a responsibility for health
• working with communities
• tackling the causes of ill-health such as poverty, unsafe environments, poor housing
• improving the health of those with the worst health
• developing health policies
• producing a City Health Development Plan