News release: Major conference looks at 'total' healthcare

Abstract

The University of Central Lancashire has an established reputation within the north west for its
innovative health initiatives. As a 'health promoting' university it aims to create a 'complete'
approach towards healthcare, building a commitment to good health into every aspect of
university life for the benefit of staff, students and the wider community. Practical examples of
work include the touch student volunteer project, which provides outreach work around drugs
and sexual health at events within the University Students' Union. This project recently won a
prestigious North West Health Challenge Award. Other initiatives include on-going support for
World Aids Day, 'green' transport plans, and food and nutrition policies- all in collaboration
with other agencies and the local community.
With this in mind, the University is keen to share its good practice with other health
organisations throughout the country and is hosting a major conference next week, focusing on
the delivery of well being and health within the context of 'healthy settings'. The conference is
organised in collaboration with a range of agencies, including the Department of Health, the UK
Public Health Association and the North West Development Agency, and aims to explore the
ways in which the healthy settings approach, used by the University and other institutions such
as hospitals and schools can be an effective way of promoting good health. Although this
approach is usually applied to organisational settings, it is also part of broader-based initiatives
such as Healthy Cities and the development of healthy communities and neighbourhoods.
'Delivering Wellbeing and Health through Settings and Partnerships' has been organised by The
Healthy Settings Development Unit within the University's Faculty of Health.
Mark Dooris, Director of the Unit, says: "The Healthy Settings Development Unit has been
working to support a range of initiatives across the North West. The level of interest in the
conference shows that its focus on delivering wellbeing and health through settings and
partnerships- and in particular its concern to encourage greater integration and joined-up'
policy and practice- is extremely relevant and timely."
Delegates at the conference include representatives from local authorities, education institutions,
local community organisations, voluntary agencies and public health authorities.
9 July 2003
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Note to Editors:
I. 'Delivering Wellbeing and Health through Settings and Partnerships: Synergy &
Strategy' will be taking place at the University of Central Lancashire on 14115 July
2003. For more information, please contact Mark Dooris, Director, Healthy Settings
Development Unit, tel: 01772 893760 or 01772 893765 email: mtdooris@ uclan.ac.uk
web site: www.uclan.ac.uk/hsdu
2. Agencies supporting the Conference include: the Department of Health, the Health
Development Agency, the Health for All Network, the UK Public Health Association,
the Government Office for the North West, the North West Regional Assembly and the
North West Development Agency