The City of Wolverhampton Council is seeking views from the public, key partners and other stakeholders about how its public health professionals can work more closely with other organisations in the City to improve the health and wellbeing of local residents, and prevent people from developing poor health in the first place.
The consultation, now underway, is also looking at the way the council delivers specific services, and how they should be provided in the future.
Already more than 500 people have had their say, with the consultation due to close at 12pm on Monday 19 February, 2018.
Councillor Paul Sweet, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: "I would like to thank everyone, including stakeholders, service users and members of the public, who has already taken the time to share with us their views about how public health services should be delivered in the future.
"We are carrying out this review because, while public health services have worked diligently to improve the health and wellbeing of local people, we are now at a point where we have to change the way we operate if we are going to have a greater impact.
"Traditionally public health services have been focused on helping individuals stop smoking, lose weight and so on. However, the things that most affect people's health - and prevent them developing poor health in the first place - are their lifestyle choices and fundamentals such as having a good education, good jobs, housing, income and living environment. If we can get these things right, people will find it much easier to maintain good health.
"Our vision is therefore for our public health experts to work more closely with other parts of the council, the NHS and the voluntary and community sectors so that, together, we can find ways of improving health for everyone in Wolverhampton."
At the same time, the consultation is seeking views on how people access support, information and advice around breastfeeding, stopping smoking, child weight management, infection prevention and emotional health and wellbeing among young people, and proposes a number of new ways of working in each area.
Councillor Sweet added: "We know that some of the services we traditionally provide have, for whatever reason, not had the desired effect, and so are exploring new ways in which people can improve their health outcomes."
To take part in the consultation, please visit Type=links;Linkid=10018;Title=Transforming Public Health Services;Target=_blank; email phcommissioning@wolverhampton.gov.uk or call Ravi Seehra on 01902 558657 by 12pm on Monday 19 February, 2018.
- released: Wednesday 31 January, 2018