Healthy Living in Barking and Dagenham - You Said, We Did!

At the start of 2022 Healthwatch Barking and Dagenham undertook research into the needs of residents regarding maintaining a healthy weight lifestyle.  Our recommendations were based on feedback that we’ve received from local people. We are pleased to share that those reccomendation have resulted in positive changes within the health and social care sector. This publication is about what Public Health Team, North East London NHS, and Community Solutions will be doing to implement those changes.

Based on your feedback, we recommended:

More support for those working in the borough who would like to improve their lifestyles.

Response from Barking and Dagenham Council:

Inclusive Growth Team will consider this as they have excellent links with local businesses. Already businesses are pointed towards the London Mayor’s Good Work Standard and encouraged to accredit. It will be considered what more can be done to facilitate employers to promote and support healthy behaviours in staff. Community Solutions will share information on services with Healthwatch to aid distribution of information and marketing.

Based on your feedback, we recommended:

Public health should undertake a healthy living event to enable individuals to come and find out more about options and services available. Taster sessions of exercise, healthy eating services, healthy living services can be promoted.

Response from Barking and Dagenham Council:

Promotion at smaller community events and via community hubs have been agreed, particularly for those suffering from inequalities. Community-led HENRY Growing Up weight management service pilots are already under way with a number of community ‘trusted voice’ organisations. Community Solutions will continue to share information on all new events.

Based on your feeback, we recommended:

Create an updated summary of all services available to be shared with all organisations in the area.

Barking and Dagenham Council responded:

One page summary of services being developed with links to New Me web page with further detail. It will also promote in community hubs and religious spaces. Community Solutions will create a meeting with Healthwatch to develop an integrated communications approach when new staff member begins.

Based on your feedback, we recommended:

To explore what can be made available to pregnant women specifically exercises to keep healthy and look at offering these to women in the borough.

Barking and Dagenham Council responded:

Following a competitive tender process More Life is being appointed to pilot their MUMS2B service for women during pregnancy and 4MUMS for women up to 24 months after giving birth. Community Solutions will promote exercise programmes that are available to pregnant women in the borough.

Based on your feedback, we recommended:

Refresh and provide training and information for professionals on the racial and cultural challenges that might be faced by their service users.

Barking and Dagenham Council responded:

Staff facilitating programmes will take internal training in three areas (Diversity, Race and Cultural Awareness) to address this need.

Based on your feedback, we recommended:

Relook at how the services can meet the needs from different cultures

Barking and Dagenham Council responded:

Working with Momenta to look at the current LEAN living programme and how it can be adapted to meet the needs of people from different cultures- currently recruiting additional community health champions that can support programme participants to think about different foods and appropriate swaps. A number of HENRY Growing Up weight management pilots are already under way with a number of community organisations.

Based on your feedback, we recommended:

Devise a communications and engagement plan about how the team will raise awareness using already available resources about the services that on offer to residents.

Barking and Dagenham Council responded:

A communication and engagement plan is being developed and will be shared with Healthwatch.

To read the report and Barking and Dagenham Council`s responce, please click on the links to download: