Council welcomes physical activity figures which rank York as the best in the country
City of York Council has welcomed figures showing that York has the highest percentage of adults in the country doing more than 2½ hours of physical activity each week.
Figures released by Public Health England* show that in 2015 69.8 percent of adults in York do over 150 minutes physical activity each week. The statistics are much higher than the national average which currently stands at 57 percent.
In 2013 the York Council surveyed residents about health and fitness. At that time 44% said that they undertook 30 minutes of exercise each day. An increase, in 3 years, to over 80% would be astonishing. The Council did not include the question in the last “Talkabout” panel questionnaire, the results of which were published in June
The statistics also highlighted that York had the lowest percentage of people achieving less than 30 minutes of physical activity with 17.5 percent of adults being the lowest in the country. This is much lower than the national average which stands at 28.7 percent.
The figures also showed that York had the highest percentage of adults in the country who cycle at least once a month at 34.2 percent.
The news comes after the hugely successful Sky Ride York which saw over 10,500 riders take part in a traffic free ride through York’s historic city centre.
Councillor Nigel Ayre, Executive Member for Leisure and Culture said:
“It is encouraging to hear that York is outperforming the country and that a large proportion of York’s adults are exercising for more than 150 minutes a week. These results are testament to the work done by the council’s sport and active leisure team with partners across the city to help more people in York be active.
“Physical activity can have so many benefits for your health and can also be great fun, as seen with the recent Sky Ride event which was hugely popular. Hopefully such events and these figures will inspire more people to take up sport or join groups so even more people in the city are active for longer.”
People who have a physically active lifestyle have a 20-35 percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease and stroke compared to those who have a less active lifestyle.
Regular physical activity is also associated with a reduced risk of diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis and colon/breast cancer and with improved mental health.
World Suicide Prevention Day tomorrow (Saturday)
The conference will launch an ambition for York to be a Suicide-Safer community and part of a Mental Health Friendly County. The event will offer the chance for people to hear about the work being done in York and offer views on how the city can become a Suicide-Safer community. It will also invite people to have their say on their experiences and where they feel the support available can be improved. Alternatively people are welcome to come along and listen to the talks which are taking place throughout the day.
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Mental health services in Acomb
The future of NHS services in the Acomb area may become a little clearer at a meeting scheduled to take place next week
Acomb Gables (formerly Garth)
A Council meeting will be told that following a building programme at Acomb Gables on Oak Rise Dementia male beds will be re-provided within this unit.
Meadowfields (York) provides female dementia care.
The change will bring all dementia care within the York locality which will be important due to the connection with the acute hospital and physical healthcare. The transfer of the unit is anticipated during Winter 2016/17.
The Community Mental Health Team currently has office space and a small number of clinic rooms at Acomb Gables. Estate works have been agreed as part of the plans to bring Mental Health Older People beds into this unit. As part of these plans additional clinic space has been developed and will be available from Winter 2016/17.
However there is still no real news on the choice of location at which the City’s new mental health hospital will be built.
Chemists opening hours in York this Bank Holiday Monday
York Council report details air quality improvements for sixth consecutive year
The latest statistics on air quality from City of York Council, gathered by the UK’s most extensive provincial monitoring network, shows improvement across the city, although there are areas still above national targets.
Areas with poor air quality include:
- Gillygate,
- Holgate,
- Lawrence Street and
- George Hudson Street/Rougier Street
The 2015/16 report will be presented to the Executive Member for the Environment at his Decision Session on 5 September.
York has one of the most extensive air quality monitoring networks in the UK outside London monitoring nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and other pollutants since 1999, and with NO2-specific monitoring at 340 locations*.Throughout 2015, NO2 concentrations have decreased at most of the monitoring stations in line with a steady downward trend.
In the Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) in the city centre, along Salisbury Terrace and in Fulford, NO2 and particulate matter levels are now fractionally lower than nationally-permitted levels which could remove certain areas of concern.
These lower levels have been achieved through a stream of initiatives driven by the council’s low emission strategies. The most recent Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP3), adopted in December 2015, sets out how York intends to continue to deliver its ambitious and pioneering strategy and to work towards becoming an internationally recognised ultra-low emission city.
The measures undertaken in 2015 to improve air quality include:
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York residents invited to have their say on city’s health and wellbeing priorities
This month York residents are being invited to have their say on the city’s priorities for health and wellbeing.
York Health and Wellbeing Board – a strategic partnership which sets the vision and direction for health and wellbeing for the city- is asking people to comment on what they think the health and wellbeing priorities for the city should be. Residents can take part in a short online survey to have their say at www.york.gov.uk/consultations.
The results of the consultation will be used to shape a Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy; which will set out the priorities and the focus for investment for the city’s health and wellbeing over the next five years.
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Advice on measles for young adults in York
Measles can be more severe in teenagers and adults and some may need hospital treatment. Measles is also extremely infectious and summer events like music festivals and fairs and students starting university, where people are mixing closely with each other, provide the ideal place for the infection to spread.
The vaccine also protects against other serious illnesses including mumps. Anyone who is unsure of their vaccination status should contact their GP practice to make an appointment. The advice comes after Public Health England announced there has been an increase in the number of cases of measles in young people during the summer festival season.
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Heating bills halved by gas central heating project for vulnerable York households
City of York Council is working with Better Homes Yorkshire to help to tackle fuel poverty by installing 19 gas central heating systems in the city thanks to the Government’s Central Heating Fund.
The central heating fund was launched by the then coalition government in March 2015
One home has already halved its estimated heating costs from the project.
York and eight other Local Authorities, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership are taking a similar approach by identifying residents on a low income living in energy inefficient homes.
One of the 19 York households benefiting from this, is a 46-year-old disabled woman living alone in her own home. Her mobility is such that it makes the safe and regular use of her only form of heating, an open coal fire, impossible.
Her water was heated by an electric immersion boiler. A community occupational therapist referred the resident to Better Homes Yorkshire and to City of York Council’s scheme.
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York residents get quicker access to dementia support
Residents in York care homes could get quicker access to support dementia services thanks to a new trial to improve diagnosis rates.
City of York Council has teamed up with the Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group (VoYCCG) and Dementia Forward*, to trial a new scheme to provide support and education for care home staff enabling them to screen residents for dementia. Historically, diagnosis required someone to visit their GP or hospital setting presenting with signs of dementia, meaning that many people didn’t receive information and support about their condition as early as possible.
The 12 month project is currently being trialled in eight care homes across the city, including City of York Council’s Haxby Hall and Windsor House. Early indications show that diagnosis rates have increased significantly, and the pilot will be rolled out to other public sector and private care homes across the city over the next few months.
Key staff at the care homes are trained how to use a national screening tool by Dementia Forward, before using it to assess their residents. If someone is assessed as having Dementia they, and their families and carers, can then be offered information and advice and the condition and support available locally, as well as using the Alzheimer’s Society toolkit ‘This is Me’ to help care workers support the resident in their care home.
Cllr Carol Runciman, Executive member for Adult Social Care and Health, City of York Council: “We know that early dementia diagnosis can make it easier for the individual and their family and carers to get the right help and support as soon as possible and help them live with the condition. We hope that this pilot will further improve diagnosis rates in York, supporting our aim to make York a Dementia Friendly City.”
Dr Louise Barker, from the Vale of York CCG, said: “I am delighted that this important project is now being trialled locally.
“For someone with dementia, changes such as moving to an unfamiliar place or meeting new people who contribute to their care can be unsettling or distressing.
“This training is helping care workers to build a better understanding of the person they are caring for and in turn enhance the support they provide.”
Jill Quinn from Dementia Forward says “We are delighted to be part of a project that joins everything up. We are working with care home staff, GPs, residents and their families. One of the most rewarding aspects has been the support we can provide to families and anything that raises awareness and improves dementia support is a positive thing.”
For more information about dementia support and services in York visit www.york.gov.uk/dementia