Livewell Southwest won the £5.5 million contract from Plymouth City Council for the continuation of health improvement services for the next five years. The £5.5 million deal signed by Plymouth City Council has been a contract extension from over ten years of excellent partnership. This includes a range of initiatives: supporting residents to stop smoking, reach and maintain a healthy weight, improve mobility, and get better mental wellbeing.
Under the new partnership, Livewell Southwest will also continue to provide core services that aim to reduce inequalities in health and improve the quality of life for residents. Key work will target helping people make better choices about lifestyle and improve mental wellbeing and well-being in the workplace. This work will directly benefit the city in increasing a healthier population and so reducing long-term care costs, creating more resilient communities.
Plymouth City Council expressed confidence about Livewell Southwest meeting the objectives because the company had been deeply integrated in the healthcare system for quite some time, with vast experience. It is also an important component of what the council aims to tackle in health disparities in Plymouth, specifically focusing on social prescribing and wellbeing in the workforce. Livewell also has flexibility and commitment toward the people, especially in demanding times such as the Covid-19 pandemic and the evacuation of residents after the discovery of an unexploded World War II bomb in Keyham.
The public health consultants of the council have also tackled ongoing issues surrounding local determinants of health, such as the impact of takeaway shops and gaming venues on public health. There has been a creation of a 400-meter no-go area around schools to avoid opening of new takeaway outlets in some places, while further work is being conducted to assess the effects of these businesses on the city’s health results.
Council leaders have expressed cautious optimism about the outcomes of this ongoing partnership, stressing that performance needs to be monitored closely to ensure that health improvements continue. With the £5.5 million investment, Plymouth looks forward to leveling up health outcomes for its residents over the next decade, especially in areas with high deprivation.
